Colt 38 Special Squad / Quelli della calibro 38 (1976)

There is a tragedy in the story of Massimo Dallamano for the fans of Italian genre film. He left this world far too early but also left a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been. Whether it is the whiptastic Venus In Furs or the beautiful silliness of Superbitch Massimo would not disappoint. He directed the camp Helmut Berger vehicle Dorian Gray and also brought us the first titles in what became known as the schoolgirl in peril trilogy.


Sadly so soon it was over but not before he had left us a swansong in the shape of Colt 38 Special Squad. For that and other titles we should be so thankful.


A dead wife is an excuse to form a special squad. A stunt-tastic motorcycle squad complete with Colt guns and the occasional dumdum that can blow the legs from under the intended target. This is a film that offers catharsis to the victims of crime while also reminding the criminal that not only does crime not go unpunished but also that the punishment may be harsh . Fingers crunched in a door are wince inducing and the violence is turned all the way up to eleven. There is a terrorist explosion that addresses the extremism and political polarization of the times.


This is Eurocrime as it always should be. Marcel Bozzuffi stars, Ivan Rassimov puts in an appearance as the villain of the piece in the shape of the Marsigliese and Stelvio Cipriani offers up a delightful and very European score. Massimo you are missed, you truly are.