The VHS Archives: Luigi Vanzi's 1931 ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK (1972)

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1931 ONCE UPON A TIME IN NEW YORK

Luigi Vanzi's Piazza pulita (1972)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Video City Productions

Catalog: VC5042

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1985

Runtime: 86:32

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Luigi Vanzi

Year of Release: 1972

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Tony Anthony, Adolfo Celi, Richard Conte, Lucretia Love, Irene Papas, Lionel Stander, Corrado Gaipa

AKAs: Clean Sweep, 1931: It Happened in America, 1931 Dueling Gangsters, Pete, Pearl, and the Pole, New York 1931

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Bullets fly and bodies pile up in this major production of a Prohibition-era crime drama in the great tradition of The Godfather and Once Upon a Time in America. A great international cast that includes Adolpho Celi of James Bond movie fame, Richard Conte, Irene Papas and Lionel Stander of TV's Hart to Hart, heads this gripping tale of gangsters at war. Relive the explosive Prohibition years when 'Tommy' guns did the talking and vice was king! A big-budget movie gem that's sure to become one of your favorites!

U.S. Video City Productions sleeve!

U.S. Spanish-language Atlas Home Video Entertainment sleeve,
courtesy of Marito Almada!

Argentinean Tauro Video slipcase cover, also courtesy
Marito Almada!

Danish A-B-Collection Videofilm sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn

Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

Japanese HMV Movies sleeve, originally scanned by
"Inspector Tanzi"!

German Video Medien Pool sleeve!

Italian trailer, uploaded by Cecchi Gori Home Video!

Looking for 1931: Once Upon a Time in New York on VHS?  It's not readily available, but there is an unlicensed Televista DVD that boots the tape, for those who really want to see it.  There's also a legit Region 2 import from Perseo Video, but it's Italian-language only. 

Investigate more titles with Project: Video City!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Jean-Claude Roy's THE KILLER (1973)

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THE KILLER

Jean-Claude Roy's L'insolent (1973)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1038

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 89:19

Print: 1.66:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Jean-Claude Roy

Year of Release: 1973

Country of Origin: France

Stars: Henry Silva, Andres Pousee, Philippe Clay, Georges Geret, Robert Dalban

AKAs: The Insolent, Deadly Sting, The Killer Shows No Mercy 

Verbatim Box Synopsis

For ex-con Henry Silva this is the big one. The perfect crime. The scam that will set him up for life.

With meticulous planning, he puts together his team. The target is fixed. The fences are lined-up. The heist is on and the prize is gold.

But this is a robbery with a difference. The bullets are blanks. The cops are actors. Silva ends up with the money. For the mobsters fencing the bullion, it's a truckload of fake gold.

But the action is only just starting. Silva has been conned himself.

The scene is set for a bloody carnage.

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

Looking for The Killer on VHS? It's not readily available, but I did find a foreign DVD on Amazon. I don't know anything about this release, so buy at your own risk!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Gianni Manera's FEAR IN THE CITY (1981)

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FEAR IN THE CITY

Gianni Manera's Il cappotto di legno (1981)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1022
Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 101:57

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Gianni Manera

Year of Release: 1981

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Michel Constantin, Gianni Manera, Joseph Logan, Fred Williamson, Raffaele Di Mario

AKAs: Wooden Coat, The Wooden Overcoat

Verbatim Box Synopsis

New York is held in the tight grip of a new wave of terror and violence. Rival gangs are on the warpath and gangsters murder each other in broad daylight while the law turns a blind eye.

Don Talascio, a powerful Mafia godfather, is old and tired and wants to retire; before he can leave the other family bosses ask him to eliminate John Dickinson (Fred Williamson), a powerful Black Mafia leader who is building up too much power on the streets of New York.

... Explosive action-filled ... violent and loaded with suspense.

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve! 

 German Arrow Video sleeve!

Greek NK Video sleeve!

Looking for Fear in the City on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2012 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Silvio Amadio's ALPHA CITY (1970)

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ALPHA CITY

Silvio Amadio's Disperatamente l'estate scorsa (1970)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1040
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 83:33
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Silvio Amadio

Year of Release: 1970

Country of Origin: Italy
Stars: Paola Pitagora, Nino Segurini, Umberto Raho, Loris Bazzochi, Mirella Pamphili
AKAs: Desperately Last Summer

Verbatim Box Synopsis

As an ex-member of the security service he knows too much.

For a time they leave him alone in peace, but now they are after him again... He knows things he should not know.

Lisa, his girlfriend manages to warn him of the immediate danger and helps him escape. 

They find his car in a ravine.

To all concerned, he is dead.  In reality, he is safe, but...

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve, which advertises a totally different film!

As you can see by the above trailer, Mogul actually stole its campaign from Eckhart Schmidt's Alpha City (1985)! Being a huge fan of the director's Trance (aka Der Fan), I was pretty bummed to see the company had pulled another bait & switch.

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

For a look at other labels, check out The VHS Archives!

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.