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The Italian Connection: Limited Edition – Raro Video UK (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Date: Italy, 1972
Director: Fernando Di Leo
Writers: Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Finocchi, Ingo Hermes
Cast: Mario Adorf, Henry Silva, Woody Strode, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Franco Fabrizi, Femi Benussi, Cyril Cusack, Sylva Koscina, Lara Wendel

Release Date: August 26th, 2024
Approximate running time: 95 Minutes 37 Seconds
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC
Rating: 15 (UK)
Sound: LPCM Mono Italian, LPCM Mono English
Subtitles: English, English SDH
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: £14.99 (UK)

"the New York mob dispatch two hitmen (Henry Silva, The Boss and Woody Strode, Once Upon a Time in the West) to apprehend pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf, Milano Calibro 9), who they believe to have stolen a shipment of heroin. The local mob also join the hunt, but despite being outnumbered Luca refuses to go quietly and fights back against his pursuers, leading a thrilling series of chases and shootouts, and a trail of bloody destruction." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 4.5/5

Here’s the information provided about the transfer, “2020 4K restoration of the original negative".

The Italian Connection comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36.5 GB

Feature: 27.7 GB

This brand new restoration looks excellent; it's a massive upgrade over Raro’s 2012 Blu-ray release. That release was one of Raro’s worst-looking Blu-rays; this new organic-looking transfer will come as a revelation when compared to that release. Colors have never looked better; image clarity, black levels, and compression are solid.

Audio: 4.25/5 (LPCM Mono Italian), 3.75/5 (LPCM Mono English)

This release comes with two audio options, a LPCM mono mix in Italian and a LPCM mono mix in English. Though both audio tracks sound clear and balanced, the English-language track has some minor background hiss. Included are English subtitles for the Italian language track and English SDH subtitles for the English language track.

Extras:

Extras for this release include archival documentary The Roots of the Mafia (20 minutes 36 seconds, LPCM stereo Italian with non-removable English subtitles), a video essay narrated by Howard S. Berger titled ...And a Tiny Bullet for a Tiny Kitten (47 minutes 2 seconds, LPCM stereo English, no subtitles), reversible cover art, and a 24-page booklet (limited to 3000 copies) with cast & crew information, an essay titled Transatlantic Traffic and The Italian Connection written by Austin Fisher.

Summary:

Directed by Fernando Di Leo, a filmmaker who is most known for his work in the Poliziotteschi genre. Notable films he directed are To Be Twenty, Slaughter Hotel, and Caliber 9. The Italian Connection (also known as Manhunt) is the 2nd film, which makes up a trilogy of films known as the Milieu Trilogy. The other two films are Caliber 9 (also known as Milano Caliber 9) and The Boss (also known as Wipeout!).

The narrative revolves around two American hitmen who go to Milan to teach a lesson to a small-time pimp who is accused of stealing heroin from the mafia.

You can always count on a sensational opening sequence when it comes to Fernando Di Leo crime films. Case in point: The Italian Connection’s pre-credit opening, which does an excellent job establishing tone and setting the foundation for the events that unfold. From there, the narrative does a superb job building momentum via a series of tension moments, which lead to a phenomenal finale.

Though The Italian Connection has all of the core elements that made Caliber 9 an extraordinary film, the result is a film that’s more stripped down than its predecessor. The narrative keeps things simple; it's a cast-and-mouse game between the two hitmen and an ever-resourceful pimp, whose survival instincts are superior to trained killers. And when he proves too difficult to pin down, those trying to kill him go after the people he cares about.

Casting wise, The Italian Connection is filled with recognizable films like Henry Silva (The Manchurian Candidate) and Woody Strode (Once Upon a Time in the West) in the roles of the two hitmen. And what makes their performances so damn enjoyable is how polar opposite their characters are. As amazing as their performances are, they still take a backseat to Mario Adorf’s (The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) portrayal of a pimp named Luca. Instead of portraying a by-the-numbers pimp, his character's connection with his daughter and wife humanizes him in a way that other similar characters are devoid of.

From a production standpoint, The Italian Connection is a film that delivers and then some. Its well-constructed narrative moves at a brisk momentum that ensures there is never a dull moment. When it comes to the action sequences, they are all top-notch, and despite there being a few violent sequences, most of these are brawls, then out and out bloodletting. Also, The Italian Connection sets itself apart from its contemporaries with the way it uses humor. Ultimately, The Italian Connection is another exemplary crime film from Fernando Di Leo.

Raro Video UK gives The Italian Connection its best home media release to date, highly recommended.