Convoy Busters

New York City and Rome share a common 20th century evolution.  They both transformed themselves from crime-ridden urinals to functional tourist attractions.  And while both cities are a whole lot better economically and sociologically today, the 1970’s offered up a far richer cinematic canvas.  NYC got stunners like The French Connection and Serpico, while the Italians unleashed a wave of poliziotteschi – crime and action films that turned the streets of Rome into a live-action game of Nintendo’s Duck Hunt.

Convoy Busters (1978) stars Maurizio Merli (more on him later) as Inspector Olmi, a Dirty Harry-style cop who insists that crime must be answered with immediate and deadly punishment, usually via the barrel end of his revolver.  But after his methods prove too much for the administration to handle, Olmi is shipped away to a quiet seaside town where his gun can stay holstered.  Unfortunately, a smuggling operation sends him back into action…leaving a pile of corpses in his wake.

 

If that’s sounds a bit like Edgar Wright’s action spoof Hot Fuzz, pat yourself on the back for good taste.  But Convoy Busters is as serious as a heart attack.  In fact, Inspector Olmi is wound so tight he actually winds up killing the good guys as often as the bad.  Star Maurizio Merli, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Franco Nero, was a poliziotteschi regular after hitting it big with Violent Rome (1975).  His leonine appearance and signature ‘stache make for the perfect ‘70s Italian supercop, minus Nero’s charisma.

 

The film itself proceeds a bit haphazardly, setting up one villain and venue only to swap it all mid-film for another approach.  But the action itself, including an impressive helicopter chase and plenty of slow-motion squibs, deliver in spades thanks to the experienced direction of Stelvio Massi and a funk-tastic score by Stelvio Cipriani.  For a late-to-the-game poliziotteschi, Convoy Busters is surprisingly spot-on when it comes to story, stunts and star power; as good as any action effort Hollywood put out in the same year.

 

Cauldron’s update on the old Blue Underground disc features a 2K restoration and carries over most of the original extras while adding quite a few of its own, including interviews with Massi and Merli’s sons and a sit-down dialogue with Mike Malloy about Merli’s career (who also participates on the new commentary track).

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