The VHS Archives: Ferdinando Baldi's SICILIAN CONNECTION (1972)

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SICILIAN CONNECTION

Ferdinando Baldi's Afyon oppio (1972)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Video City Productions

Catalog: None

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1986

Runtime: 96:01

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: Trailers for Mob War, Spy Story (2.35:1!), and "Air Show"

About the Film

Director: Ferdinando Baldi

Year of Release: 1972

Country of Origin: Italy / France

Stars: Ben Gazarra, Silvia Monti, Fausto Tozzi, Jess Hahn, Malisa Longo

AKAs: The Sicilian Connection, The Opium Connection, The Opium Route, For the Godfather of Sicily

Verbatim Box Synopsis

BEN GAZARRA stars in this best-ever depiction of the evil opium trade. Travel the "Opium Route" from the "Golden Triangle", across the Sahara, through Europe and on to the United States, in this non-stop, Mafia action thriller, sure to please all "gang-land" movie fans. 

U.S. Video City Productions sleeve!

UK Video Form Pictures pre-cert sleeve,

courtesy of Lovelock and Load's Jonny Redman!

 Japanese Toemi Video sleeve, courtesy of Vince Corkadel! 
Be sure to check out his YouTube Channel!

Danish Dansk Video Film sleeve, courtesy of Nils Markvardsen!

Original Variety ad, courtesy of Unpopped Cinema!

International trailer, uploaded by "Night of the Trailers"!

Looking for Sicilian Connection on VHS? It's not readily available. Not on DVD, either. Good luck!

Investigate more titles with Project: Video City!

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

© 2014 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Alberto De Martino's NEW MAFIA BOSS (1972)

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NEW MAFIA BOSS

Alberto De Martino's I familiari delle vittime non saranno avvertiti (1972)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Video City Productions

Catalog: 5047

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1985

Runtime: 100:03 (99:37 + end credits music)

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: Trailer for Proof of the Man

About the Film

Director: Alberto De Martino

Year of Release: 1972

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Antonio Sabato, Telly Savalas, Paola Tedesco, Guido Lollobrigida, Maria Valente  

AKAs: The Family of the Victim Will Not Be Warned, The New Mafia Boss, Crime Boss, The Mafia Traitor, The Mafia Terminator, The Murder Network

Verbatim Box Synopsis

Telly Savalas delivers another riveting performance in this brutal gangster epic of mafia families at war.

At stake are millions in mafia profits. The struggle for leadership leaves dozens of corpses in its wake. Bullets fly; loyalties are forgotten as powerful mafia dons claw for the top spot in this corrupt kingdom.

U.S. Video City Productions sleeve!

U.K. Medusa Home Video reissue sleeve, courtesy of Pre-Cert Video!

German Mondial Video hardbox cover!

French VIP Video Club sleeve!

Spanish Luna sleeve!

Argentinean World Video sleeve, courtesy of Raro VHS!

A ltbx print of the entire movie, uploaded by PizzaFlix!

Looking for New Mafia Boss on VHS? It's available on Amazon here. You can also get a cheapo (bootleg) Italian crime DVD set including the flick as Crime Boss, if that's your thing. 

Investigate more titles with Project: Video City!

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

© 2013 -- 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: Michele Massimo Tarantini's CRIMEBUSTERS (1976)

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CRIMEBUSTERS

Michele Massimo Tarantini's Poliziotti violenti (1976)

The VHS Archives Factsheet

Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.

Catalog: MOG1025

Box Type: Clamshell

Year of Release: 1987

Runtime: 87:06

Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs

Extras: None

About the Film

Director: Michele Massimo Tarantini

Year of Release: 1976

Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Antonio Sabato, Henry Silva, Ettore Manni, Silvia Dionisio

AKAs: Crime Busters, MKS 118

Verbatim Box Synopsis

CRIMEBUSTERS ... a movie packed with non-stop action, political intrigue and horrific violence.

Set in a terrorist torn Latin country, the head of a paratroop training team wages a one man battle to unravel the illegal activities of a multi-national armaments company. 

Is the company supplying terrorist squads?  As the investigation evolves blackmail, political manipulation and murder emerge as the film builds towards its stunning climax.  A story of kidnapping, espionage and government deceit. 

 U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

Norwegian Video Huset sleeve, courtesy of Dag-Johnny Elnes! 

Danish Dansk Video Film sleeve, courtesy of Hans-Jorn Reimer and his Danish Ex-Rental VHS Appreciation Group!

 Swedish VideoTapeCenter (VTC) sleeve, courtesy of Rolfens DVD!

 Spanish Video Distribuciones Valfer sleeve, courtesy of Exhumed Movies' Jose Antonio Diego Bogajo!

German Arcade Video sleeve! 

 UK VTC sleeve, originally scanned by "Inspector Tanzi"!

Greek MV sleeve, originally scanned by "monezza"!

Italian trailer, uploaded by "neverlando74"!

Looking for Crimebusters on VHS?  It's not readily available, but you can get the Italian-language import DVD here. (Warning: no English subtitles!) 

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: Lucio Fulci's CONTRABAND (1980)

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CONTRABAND

Lucio Fulci's Luca il contrabbandiere (1980)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Mogul Communications, Inc.
Catalog: MOG1019
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1987
Runtime: 90:25
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Lucio Fulci
Year of Release: 1980
Country of Origin: Italy

Stars: Fabio Testi, Ivana Monti, Guido Alberti, Venantino Venantini, Ajita Wilson, Marcel Bozzuffi, Romano Puppi

AKAs: Luca, The Smuggler, The Naples Connection

Verbatim Box Synopsis

The gang leader of a smuggling racket makes a miraculous escape from an ambush in which his brother is murdered.  Meanwhile a traitor in his gang informs the authorities and their activity is curtailed.

All hell breaks loose and murder follows murder as rival gangs try to eliminate each other.

All action, fast-paced movie in the tradition of "The Godfather."

U.S. Mogul Communications sleeve!

German VTD sleeve, taken from The Video Museum! 

Alternate German VTD sleeve, also from The Video Museum! 

Swiss SSV sleeve! 

Dutch Eagle 6 sleeve, courtesy of Cult VHS! 

Italian-language U.S. Centauro sleeve!

 Argentinean International Television Film Distributors sleeve, courtesy of Raro VHS!

Alternate Argentinean International sleeve, also courtesy of Raro VHS! 

 Greek Diamond sleeve, again courtesy of Raro VHS!

Norwegian Video-Huset sleeve, courtesy of Dag-Johnny Elnes!

Japanese Doberman sleeve, originally scanned by "ed209vscain"!

Spanish Layons Video sleeve, courtesy of "Inspector Tanzi"!

International trailer, uploaded by Blue Underground!

Notes (partially cannibalized from my old Mondo Digital review)

Fulci's sole crime actioner eschews the traditional cops vs. criminals set-up and instead spins a gruesome mobsters vs. mobsters scenario. Fabio Testi may be our hero, but he's also a ruthless killer who lays waste to several folks throughout the flick. Relying on the old "honor among thieves" credo, followers of spaghetti westerns, samurai epics and Hong Kong "heroic bloodshed" gun fu slaughterthons will find a comfortable familiarity with the general tone. Testi's good looks and cool demeanor add credence to his performance, and it's easy to believe someone with his charm could effortlessly climb the underworld ladder. The role occasionally harks back to the skills he honed as a stuntman, forcing Fabio to really earn his paycheck by ably jumping out windows and swinging from ropes, among other things. The supporting cast also presents a few surprises, with Euro-sex superstar Ajita Wilson popping up as a slutty gangster groupie and all-around badass Romano Puppo portraying a particularly mean-spirited hitman who wipes out half the cast. Lucio Fulci's workmanlike direction lacks the energetic staging someone like Enzo Castellari or Umberto Lenzi would have brought to the table and he instead opts to spoon out his usual specialty: wholesale carnage. That's right, gang, Contraband ranks right up there alongside Tulio Demicheli's Ricco as the goriest, most ruthless poliziotteschi Italy has to offer. Bellies are blown open, heads are demolished by gunfire and, in one of the more excruciating scenes in Fulci's oeuvre, a woman's face is blistered off with a Bunsen burner. Weak stomachs beware.

Shot from the end of November through December 1979 on location in Naples with some interior work done at De Paolis Studios in Rome, Fulci's effort started life under the title Vicious and was filmed as Mean Blood before eventually settling on Luca il Contrabbandiere (Luca the Smuggler). Distributed overseas as The Smuggler and The Naples Connection (presumably to capitalize on Marcel Bozzuffi's similar role in The French Connection), the outing was skipped over for domestic theatrical dates and didn't see U.S. shores until Mogul Communications' 1987 VHS release as Contraband. A nice rarity for collectors, the tape itself, while more or less uncut, left a lot to be desired with its cropped and fuzzy transfer. Additionally, the entire opening sequence was blacked out to showcase cheesy, computer-generated credits! Blue Underground's U.S. DVD thankfully rectifies this situation with an intact print that easily eclipses past presentations. Letterboxed at 1.85:1, their anamorphic transfer represents Sergio Salvati's unusually subdued and slightly soft-focus photography as accurately as can ever be expected. By no means a vibrant movie, there are still several colorful interludes (like the discotheque sequence) that reinforce what a nice makeover the film received here. A few instances of brief print damage still pop up, but they float right by and aren't worth fussing over. The mono soundtrack, while obviously limited, is also free of any problems and the noticeable hum that plagued other issues is mercifully absent. Recommended.

Additional Notes

Over at the Lovelock & Load forums, member "Pollanet" shared this fascinating bit of information: "In the book "Lucio Fulci - Il terrorista dei generi," unfortunately Italian-language only, my friend Paolo Albiero talks a lot about the unbelievable history of Fulci's Luca il contrabbandiere.

"Producer Sandro Infascelli died while Fulci was directing the film; Infascelli's wife didn't know what to do and almost had to abort the work.  Unexpectedly, the smugglers decided to help her and finished producing the movie!

"Nothing in the film is faked; all the men and the craftsman are really Naples contrabands! Every night they gave a bag with money to Infascelli's widow to pay the production, and every day a part of them worked for Fulci as he directed.

"Fulci said that in all his career he never had as good a producer as the contrabands..."

Looking for Contraband on VHS? It's not readily available, but the aforementioned Blue Underground DVD can be had for pretty cheap!

Investigate more titles with Project: MOGUL!

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

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.

The VHS Archives: Claude Mulot's CONTRACT TO KILL (1971)

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CONTRACT TO KILL

Claude Mulot's La saignee (1971)

The VHS Archives Factsheet
Label: Imperial Video Corp.
Catalog: IVC112
Box Type: Clamshell
Year of Release: 1983
Runtime: 83:00
Print: 1.33:1 / English / No subs
Extras: None

About the Film
Director: Claude Mulot

Year of Release: 1971

Country of Origin: France / Italy
Stars: Bruno Pradal, Charles Southwood, Gabriele Tinti, Ewa Swann, Patti D'Arbanville, Sydney Chaplin
AKAs: The Contract, The Mafia Contract, The Blood Letting

Verbatim Box Synopsis

What would you do if you walked into a room and saw two bullet-riddle bodies -- the killer still standing over them?  THOMAS CHANARD runs for his life!  He recognizes the murderer, GINO LONGUA, a prominent member of the New York syndicate, and he knows LONGUA will put out a contract on him --that he will be the next to die, if they find him.  Where would you be safe if you were worth $30,000 -- DEAD.  THOMAS runs home to the small French village he left two years ago -- to the girl he loved, but couldn't have.

There is no safety in the past.  THOMAS is caught in a whirlpool of violence he can't control, that pulls him deeper into the emotional depths he has always tried to avoid.

The overwhelming reality of the contract builds to an unbelievably bloody climax which will leave the viewer breathless!

U.S. Imperial Video Corp. sleeve! 

U.K. Nutland Video sleeve, courtesy of "movie-samurai"!  Be sure to check out his Iver Film Services tribute site!

U.K. Shaftesbury sleeve, courtesy of MMTowns!

U.S. theatrical trailer, uploaded by "robatsea2009"!

Looking for Contract to Kill on VHS? It's available on Amazon here.

Investigate more titles with Project: IVC!

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

© 2011 -- Bruce Holecheck. All Rights Reserved.