Eurocrime Rarities: Volume 1 – Vinegar Syndrome Labs (Blu-ray)

Theatrical Release Dates: Italy, 1980 (The Day of the Cobra), Italy, 1977 (The Rascal's Gang), Italy, 1978 (The Iron Commissioner)
Directors: Enzo G. Castellari (The Day of the Cobra), Stelvio Massi (The Rascal's Gang, The Iron Commissioner)
Cast: Franco Nero, Sybil Danning, Mario Maranzana, Licinia Lentini, Ennio Girolami, Mickey Knox, Massimo Vanni, Romano Puppo, William Berger (The Day of the Cobra), Luc Merenda, Katia Christine, Corrado Solari, Franco Citti, Tomas Milian, Mario Brega, Massimo Vanni, Salvatore Billa (The Rascal's Gang), Maurizio Merli, Janet Agren, Ettore Manni, Chris Avram, Mariangela Giordano, Franco Garofalo, Enzo Fiermonte, Elisa Mainardi (The Iron Commissioner)

Release Date: April 21st, 2026
Approximate Running Times: 95 Minutes 7 Seconds (The Day of the Cobra), 99 Minutes 55 Seconds (The Rascal's Gang), 83 Minutes 3 Seconds (The Iron Commissioner)
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Day of the Cobra), 2.35:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Rascal's Gang), 1.85:1 Widescreen / 1080 Progressive / MPEG-4 AVC (The Iron Commissioner)
Rating: NR
Sound: DTS-HD Mono Italian (All Films), DTS-HD Mono English (The Day of the Cobra, The Rascal's Gang)
Subtitles: English (All Films), English SDH (The Day of the Cobra, The Rascal's Gang)
Region Coding: Region Free
Retail Price: $59.98

The Day of the Cobra: "Larry Stanziani is a bottom-of-the-barrel private eye in San Francisco, quietly scraping by to make ends meet. But in a former life, Stanziani (Franco Nero) was The Cobra, one of the most capable and deadly secret agents the world had ever seen. Called back into action in Italy after a narcotics agent is killed, Larry uncovers a syndicate that'll attempt every dirty trick in the book to finish him off. But they don't know that The Cobra always stays one step ahead of any double-cross ever invented." - synopsis provided by the distributor

The Rascal's Gang: "Naples is being crippled by crime, and now an important police leader has been assassinated. The grizzled Commissario Ghini (Luc Merenda) is tough enough to tackle the crime wave and is the only one to fill his shoes. Meanwhile, Monnezza (Tomas Milian) has his hands full, too: he's running his cheeky trattoria while also teaching a new batch of hapless schemers at his low-rent school for thieves." - synopsis provided by the distributor 

The Iron Commissioner: "Commissario Mariani (Maurizio Merli) has been taking down crooks for years, and these days the weight of it shows. He's divorced, his son thinks of him more as a friend than a father, his superiors are critical of him, and even the children of people he put away are coming after him. But he's not the Iron Commissioner for nothing, and however seasoned, he's not afraid to knock around a few hoods to get the job done. When a kidnapping occurs too close to home, Mariani doesn't hesitate to spring into action." - synopsis provided by the distributor

Video: 3.75/5 ((The Day of the Cobra, The Rascal's Gang, The Iron Commissioner)

Here’s the information given about the transfers, “Newly scanned and restored in 2K from its 35mm original negative."

The Day of the Cobra comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 35.2 GB

Feature: 27.6 GB

The Rascal's Gang comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 36 GB

Feature: 29 GB

The Iron Commissioner comes on a 50 GB dual layer Blu-ray.

Disc Size: 29.9 GB

Feature: 22.7 GB

Although all of the films have some source damage, fortunately it is never overbearing. Flesh tones look healthy, colors generally look good, image clarity and black levels are strong, there are no issues with compression, and they all retain an organic look.

Audio: 4/5 (DTS-HD Mono Italian All Films), 3.75/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - The Rascal's Gang), 3.5/5 (DTS-HD Mono English - The Day of the Cobra)

The Day of the Cobra and The Rascal's Gang each come with two audio options, a DTS-HD mono mix in Italian and a DTS-HD mono mix in English. All of the tracks sound clear, and balanced and ambient sounds are well-represented. That said, The Day of the Cobra’s Italian language track sounds more robust than its English language counterpart. All films come with removable English subtitles for their Italian language tracks, removable English SDH for their English language tracks, removable English subtitles for text in Italian when watching with the English language track, and removable English subtitles for a handful of moments in The Rascal's Gang that were never dubbed into English.

Extras:

Extras for The Day of the Cobra include reversible cover art, an interview with actor/stuntman Massimo Vanni titled Henchman with a Heart of Gold (21 minutes 57 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with director/writer Enzo G. Castellari titled Henchman with a Heart of Gold (24 minutes 16 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with film historians Eugenio Ercolani, Troy Howarth, and Nathaniel Thompson.

Extras for The Rascal's Gang include reversible cover art, an interview with actor Corrado Solari titled A Beautiful Ugly Face (23 minutes 50 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with actor Luc Merenda titled The Nonviolent Professional (22 minutes 1 second, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Eugenio Ercolani and Troy Howarth.

Extras for The Iron Commissioner include reversible cover art, an interview with assistant director Danilo Massi titled The Purest Form of Poliziesco (20 minutes 9 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), an interview with cinematographer Sergio Rubini titled Free Hand for a Tough DOP (23 minutes 36 seconds, Dolby Digital stereo Italian with removable English subtitles), and an audio commentary with Eugenio Ercolani and Nanni Cobretti.

Other extras include reversible cover art, a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (limited to 4,000 units), and a 40-page perfect-bound book (limited to 4,000 units) with an essay titled Metallic K.O. Down on the Mean Streets with The Iron Commissioner written by James Oliver, an essay titled Warrior Queen: The European Adventures of Sybil Danning written by Adrian Smith, and Trash Cans and Cops: Analyzing Stelvio Massi’s Dirty Gang and Tomas Milian’s Career written by Francesco Massaccisi.

Summary:

The Day of the Cobra: Enzo G. Castellari directed The Day of the Cobra. He’s a filmmaker who worked in just about every genre that was popular in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Notable films that he directed are Cold Eyes of Fear, High Crime, Street Law, and The Big Racket.

A barely getting-by private eye who used to be a narcotics officer is hired by his former employer to recover a black book that can bring down a drug syndicate.

The pairing Enzo G. Castellari (Cold Eyes of Fear) with Franco Nero (Django) was the most significant of Castellari’s career. Although Enzo G. Castellari had directed 10 films before working with Franco Nero on High Crime, most of these films were spaghetti westerns, as the popularity of that genre was already waning. The one-two punch of High Crime and Street Law elevated Enzo G. Castellari’s stature, making him one of the best directors making action cinema in the 1970s.

Out of their three crime film collaborations, The Day of the Cobra is an odd film that at times leans too much into its quirkiness. Where High Crime and Street Law were brutal in-your-face action films with messages, The Day of the Cobra revolves around a third-rate private eye who looks like a disheveled version of Raymond Chandler’s iconic character Phillip Marlowe. That said, while there are elements in The Day of the Cobra that are associated with eurocrime cinema, it's a film that actually owes more to film noir cinema.

The entire cast give solid performances in which they fully embrace their characters, especially Franco Nero in the role of a private eye named Larry Stanziani. While Franco Nero has delved into the role that allowed him to showcase his comedic side, Larry Stanziani is arguably one of the most absurd characters he ever portrayed. The rest of the cast is rounded out with recognizable faces of 1970s Eurocult cinema: Sybil Danning (The Red Queen Kills Seven Times), William Berger (Face to Face), and Ennio Girolami, Enzo G. Castellari’s brother, most known for Nights of Cabiria.

Whenever Enzo G. Castellari collaborates with Franco Nero, viewers can expect an exhilarating and high-octane thrill ride. In the realm of Castellari's cinema, memorable action sequences and exceptional stunt work are always a hallmark. Although The Day of the Cobra lacks the car chase, one of Eurocrime's central motifs, it does feature a lengthy foot chase that ends with a character exploding. One of the more memorable action moments is a scene where Larry Stanziani is attacked by a woman who turns out to be a man in drag. Ultimately, The Day of the Cobra is a film whose positives make its shortcomings easy to overlook.

The Rascal's Gang: Stelvio Massi directed The Rascal's Gang. He’s most known for his work within the poliziotteschi genre. Notable films that he directed are Emergency Squad, Cross Shot, The Last Round, Highway Racer, and Convoy Busters.

A fearless cop who takes risks and bends the rules will do whatever it takes to avenge the death of his partner.

The Rascal's Gang brings together three notable figures of 1970s poliziotteschi cinema, director Stelvio Massi (Emergency Squad), and actors Luc Merenda (The Violent Professionals) and Tomas Milian (Almost Human). In the case of Tomas Milian, he would portray a petty thief named Monnezza, aka Trash Can, a character that allowed him to explore his more comedic side instead of the usual cold-blooded killer types he portrayed. Poliziotteschi, like most Italian genres, began as films that showed a stark, brutal reality before evolving into a parody with humor becoming a focal point later on. The Rascal's Gang is a solid example of a poliziotteschi that balances the brutal and humorous aspects of the genre.

The Rascal's Gang quickly grabs your attention with an exemplary pre-credits opening sequence that introduces Luc Merenda’s commissioner Ghini, a no-nonsense police inspector who does whatever is needed to bring the bad guys to justice. While the district attorney readily complies with the hostage takers' demands, Ghini and his team meticulously plan an elaborate rescue, entering a top-floor apartment from all angles. This action set piece is indicative of Stelvio Massi’s craftsmanship as a filmmaker of action films; few of his contemporaries rivaled him in this area.

When it comes to the performances, the entire cast gives their all, but it is the two leads who leave the strongest impression, especially Tomas Milian’s portrayal of Monnezza. What makes his performance so special is his ability to improvise and elevate everyone around him. His performance is further enhanced by his ridiculous haircut and accent. Luc Merenda’s portrayal of Ghini deserves recognition; he is an actor who is ideally suited, both physically and in demeanor, to embody the hard-nosed cops that characterized the 1970s poliziotteschi genre.

While The Rascal's Gang checks all of the boxes when it comes to action-related elements one expects from a poliziotteschi, it actually shines the brightest when it comes to its comedic moments. Some of the funniest moments include the scene that introduces Monnezza at his restaurant, where the unique atmosphere is created by cursing at customers. Additionally, there is a scene where criminals create obstacles for a couple trying to make love. There is also a running gag with a bald member of Monnezza’s gang in which everyone calls him Yul Brynner. Ultimately, The Rascal's Gang is a highly entertaining blend of action and humor, making it a film that fans of poliziotteschi cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

The Iron Commissioner: When one discusses Poliziotteschi cinema two names that instantly spring to mind are Stelvio Massi and Maurizio Merli. In all they would collaborate on six Poliziotteschi films, Poliziotto sprint (Highway Racer), Magnum Cop, Convoy Busters, The Iron Commissioner, Sbirro, la tua legge è lenta… la mia… no! (Cop, your law is slow … mine … no!) and The Rebel. Unfortunately each new collaboration faced the thing that plagued so many Italian genre films, minuscule budgets that go more anemic as the 1970’s drew to a close.

This brings us to The Iron Commissioner, a film that followed what’s arguably Stelvio Massi and Maurizio Merli’s best collaboration Convoy Busters. Content wise, though The Iron Commissioner has all the elements that have become synonymous Poliziotteschi cinema. It becomes immediately clear that The Iron Commissioner is a lean film that’s put together on a shoestring budget. And nowhere is the clearer, then when it comes to The Iron Commissioner’s streamlined narrative which serves as not much more than a means for Maurizio Merli to flex his muscles.

The Iron Commissioner’s plot revolves around Mauro Mariani, a no-nonsense police commissioner who shoots first and asks questions later. Though he’s a cop who’s modus operandi straddles the line of what’s lawful and what’s criminal. His methods get results and because of this his superiors give him latitude. Over the years, he’s put a lot of bad guys away, which leads to his son becoming the target of someone who feels Mariani wronged him.

Performance wise Maurizio Merli (The Tough Ones, Violent Naples) dominates the screen. He delivers another take no prisoners performance that’s inline with his other Poliziotteschi films. That said, though he’s character is all about taking down bad guys. The character he portrays in The Iron Commissioner gives him an opportunity to show his softer side. Other notable cast members include, Janet Agren (Eaten Alive!, City of the Living Dead) in the role of Mauro Mariani’s ex-wife, Mariangela Giordano (Malabimba, Burial Ground: The Nights of Terror) and Franco Garofalo (Hell of the Living Dead, The Other Hell) in the roles of kidnappers.

Stelvio Massi is a master craftsman whose ability to deliver high-octane action set pieces on anemic budgets is second to none. Though The Iron Commissioner does not have the obligatory car chase scene. This is quickly forgiven after one witnesses the slow motion abduction opening sequence that sets the tone for the rest of the film. Ultimately, despite its shortcomings, what lies within is a film that fans of Poliziotteschi cinema should thoroughly enjoy.

Vinegar Syndrome Labs Eurocrime Rarities: Volume 1 brings together three Italian crime films, gives them strong audio/video presentations and informative extras. Recommended.

 

Written by Michael Den Boer