La mala ordina
Encyclopedia
La mala ordina or Manhunt is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo
in 1972. It is the second part of Di Leo's Milieu Trilogy, starting with Milano calibro 9
in 1972 and ending with Il Boss
(The Boss) in 1973. It had been released under a number of titles including The Italian Connection, Hired to Kill and Black Kingpin.
) is hunted by both local mobsters and two killers (Henry Silva and Woody Strode
) sent by the New York mafia
after a shipment of heroin fails to arrive. But it becomes apparent he is not as soft as he appears as a deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out on the streets of Milan
. The film contains a dramatic chase scene where Canali pursues an assassin both on car and on foot.
The two American hitmen have contrasting personalities. Dave (Silva) is something of a playboy and loudmouth, while Frank (Strode) is quiet and professional. The concept of two hitmen teamed up, one black and one white, appears to have been a likely inspiration for the characters played by John Travolta
and Samuel L. Jackson
in Pulp Fiction
.
Fernando Di Leo
Fernando Di Leo was an Italian film director and script writer born in San Ferdinando di Puglia. During his career from 1964 to 1985, Di Leo directed 20 films and was involved in the writing process in 43...
in 1972. It is the second part of Di Leo's Milieu Trilogy, starting with Milano calibro 9
Milano calibro 9
Milano calibro 9 is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo in 1972. The film is based on a novel of the same name written by Giorgio Scerbanenco...
in 1972 and ending with Il Boss
Il Boss
Il Boss, aka The Boss or Wipeout! is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo in 1973...
(The Boss) in 1973. It had been released under a number of titles including The Italian Connection, Hired to Kill and Black Kingpin.
Plot
Small-time pimp Luca Canali (Mario AdorfMario Adorf
Mario Adorf is a German film and stage actor, best known for his lead role in the 1978 film The Tin Drum.-Biography:...
) is hunted by both local mobsters and two killers (Henry Silva and Woody Strode
Woody Strode
Woodrow Wilson Woolwine "Woody" Strode was a decathlete and football star who went on to become a pioneering black American film actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor for his role in Spartacus in 1960...
) sent by the New York mafia
Five Families
The Five Families are the five original Italian-American Mafia crime families which have dominated organized crime in America since 1931. The Five Families in New York remain as the powerhouse of the Italian Mafia in the United States.-History:...
after a shipment of heroin fails to arrive. But it becomes apparent he is not as soft as he appears as a deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out on the streets of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. The film contains a dramatic chase scene where Canali pursues an assassin both on car and on foot.
The two American hitmen have contrasting personalities. Dave (Silva) is something of a playboy and loudmouth, while Frank (Strode) is quiet and professional. The concept of two hitmen teamed up, one black and one white, appears to have been a likely inspiration for the characters played by John Travolta
John Travolta
John Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American film and television actor and film producer. After becoming involved with the Civil Rights Movement, he moved on to acting in theater at Morehouse College, and then films. He had several small roles such as in the film Goodfellas before meeting his mentor,...
in Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (film)
Pulp Fiction is a 1994 American crime film directed by Quentin Tarantino, who co-wrote its screenplay with Roger Avary. The film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, ironic mix of humor and violence, nonlinear storyline, and host of cinematic allusions and pop culture references...
.
Cast
- Mario AdorfMario AdorfMario Adorf is a German film and stage actor, best known for his lead role in the 1978 film The Tin Drum.-Biography:...
- Luca Canali - Henry Silva - Dave Catania
- Woody StrodeWoody StrodeWoodrow Wilson Woolwine "Woody" Strode was a decathlete and football star who went on to become a pioneering black American film actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor for his role in Spartacus in 1960...
- Frank Webster - Adolfo CeliAdolfo CeliAdolfo Celi was an Italian film actor and director.-Life and career:Born in Messina, Sicily, Celi appeared in nearly 100 movies, specializing in international villains. His most famous role was as Emilio Largo in the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball...
- Don Vito Tressoldi - Luciana PaluzziLuciana PaluzziLuciana Paluzzi is an Italian actress. She is best known for playing SPECTRE assassin Fiona Volpe in the fourth James Bond film, Thunderball.-Career:...
- Eva Lalli - Franco FabriziFranco FabriziFranco Fabrizi was an Italian actor.Son of a barber and a cinema cashier, he was a soap opera photo actor, for example, the fotoromanzo Arizona Kid, in the newspaper Avventuroso Film...
- Enrico Moroni - Femi BenussiFemi BenussiFemi Benussi , is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 82 films between 1965 and 1983.She was born in Rovigno, Italy .-Selected filmography:* Bloody Pit of Horror * The Hawks and the Sparrows...
- Nana - Gianni Macchia - Nicolo
- Peter BerlingPeter BerlingPeter Berling is a German actor and writer. He has worked on several occasions with director Werner Herzog, in his collaborations with actor Klaus Kinski....
- Damiano - Francesca Romana Coluzzi - Trini
- Cyril CusackCyril CusackCyril James Cusack was an Irish actor, who appeared in more than 90 films.-Early life:Cusack was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, the son of Alice Violet , an actress, and James Walter Cusack, a sergeant in the Natal mounted police. His parents separated when he was young and his mother took...
- Corso - Sylva KoscinaSylva KoscinaSylva Koscina was an Italian actress.-Biography:...
- Lucia Canali - Jessica Dublin - Miss Kenneth
- Omero Capanna - Vito's Goon
- Giuseppe CastellanoGiuseppe CastellanoGiuseppe Castellano was an Italian general who negotiated the Armistice between Italy and Allied armed forces on September 8, 1943.-Military career:...
- Garagaz