La Belva Col Mitra

DVD release cover.

Beast With a Gun (a.k.a La Belva Col Mitra, Mad Dog  & Mad Dog Killer) is another excellent example of the italian police thriller cult sub-genre. The film is quite a lot nastier than most of the Italian crime films around, and  some times it feels like it could righteously fit into the exploitation cult genre. Naturally, there's the usual array of fistfights, shootouts and car chases; but here we've also get to see some  rapes (light stuff nothing too literal this movie is not I Spit on Your Grave) and scenes of knife injuries - among other stuff. So La Belva Col Mitra might not be for everyone's taste, but I think most people would agree that the nasty action certainly gives the film a bit more of flavor. 

The film begins with the runaway of three nasty convicts. Their leader is a man named Nanni Vitali, and their first port of call after escaping from jail is killing the dirty scumbag that rat them out on the fuzz. However, when they catch up with him; Nanni gets interested in his girlfriend, and proceeds to rape her behind the trees before killing the snitch. He also wants the girl to help them pull off a robbery; and she's ok with helping them, but not before telling the police all about it of course.

Original movie titles, my copy says "Mad Dog"

Mr. Bad guy.

The main bad character is absolutely spot on with his role as the bad to the bones criminal at the centre of the tale, and every moment he's on screen is completely gripping. He is joined by Marisa Mell, who provides the eye candy in style! Richard Harrison rounds off the central cast with the tough and experienced cop role and like his co-stars - plays it well. 

Realism obviously wasn't big on director Sergio Grieco's priority list, however, as the film features numerous instances that don't make a lot of sense - the scene that springs to mind instantly is the one where Giuliana is shot in the leg...and then instantly diagnoses it all by herself as 'not serious' and barely bats an eyelid! funny!

Innocent bystander?

Not so innocent now right?

At first she suffered, but then she liked it! mother of God!

Tell me about it!

Most of Marisa Mell pictures are in nude format.

Now, let's check the strongest points in this Italian Police Thriller: 

- The Vicious Nanni. Nanni Vitali is one of those vicious, brutal, sadistic type characters that are necessary for this kind of film to work. The things he is capable of doing can be at times shocking. The ferocious way he beats-up the gas attendant for no real purpose at all is the perfect example. He's the kind of character you wouldn't want to run into in real life.

- Marisa Mell. Marisa Mell is another of those European actresses who may not have been much of a thespian, but she has a certain screen presence that's undeniable. It's too bad the decision was made to ignore her character for the final third of the movie.

Police hero Italian style.

It's crime time!

Now let's check the weakest points of the film according to yours truly: 

- Unbelievable Plot Points. While I could write about several instances where the movie stretches credibility, I'll limit these comments to two. First, no real police would bungle a heist set-up as bad as the police in this film. They have inside information. They know where and when the robbery is to take place. They have their own people poising as factory workers. Yet two people are killed and the robbers make off with a van full of hostages. Second, while scouting the vast Italian countryside, the police just happen to select and climb the very electric pole that will give them a clear view of the killers' hideout. How lucky can you be! 

- Originality. Beast with a Gun is a fairly standard Italian police thriller that offers very little in the way of innovation. It's all routine, run-of-the-mill, seen-it-before type stuff. A little more creativity would have gone a long way to making it a good film of its type.

In the end, if you're a fan of this kind of film, you probably won't see anything you haven't seen before. But what is presented is generally well done with some very nice accompanying music. And, Marisa Mell makes the whole thing worthwhile for me.

Kidnapped sister.

Don't kill me!

By the Way...

Do you remember the scene in Jackie Brown with Robert DeNiro and Bridget Fonda watching TV and then Samuel Jackson walks in and goes: "Is that Rutger Hauer?" and Fonda replies: "No, it's Helmut Berger."?

alright gotta set the table and make some tea for my wife, you know real life is really important.

This movie can be found on DVD on the 50 Drive-In Movie Classics box set released by MillCreek Entertainment originally in 2006, but a 2010 re-relase of the same exact box set is available.

Here's the original Italian movie trailer: