Gang War in Milan | Blu-ray Review

Remembered primarily for several giallo titles (and some more exploitative sub-genre cannibal thrillers), illustrious director Umberto Lenzi also helmed several Euro-crime police thrillers (polizieschi). Raro Video brings his first foray into the crime world, 1973’s Gang War in Milan, to Blu-ray with a new, digitally restored transfer. While it’s about as straightforward as its title promises, it’s filled with amusing instances.

Antonio Sobato (father of soap star Antonio Sobato Jr.) is a produce vendor who moonlights as Milan’s most influential pimp, Toto Cangemi. A staunchly proud Sicilian, Toto doesn’t take too kindly to French gangster and drug lord Roger Daverty, aka La Capitaine (Philippe Leroy), who makes an aggressive offer to unite their crime fronts. If Toto’s girls also sell La Capitaine’s goods, they’ll be rolling in the dough. But nobody couches on Toto’s turf, and the rival powers are soon going head to head. As Toto’s girls are terrorized by La Capitaine’s henchmen, Toto beats down the Frenchmen’s sellers. Blows continue to be exchanged until Toto discovers La Capitaine’s terrible secret and the two crime lords can finally agree on an equal business venture. But the monkey wrench in the whole deal just may be Toto’s love interest, Jasmina Sanders (Marisa Mell).

Disc Review

Raro Video’s digital restoration of Gang War in Milan looks great, though the high definition sometimes works against glaring close-ups, particularly those of Marisa Mell. A handful of action sequences also appear to be well executed for a romp that feels lacking in narrative innovation, for which the film receives much praise in an extra feature from documentary filmmaker Mike Malloy (Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the 70s). Malloy takes the time to point out the untoward treatment of women, though apparently wasn’t comfortable with extending his reading concerning the ramifications of how it treats gay characters, as well.

Final Thoughts

Rife with ridiculous flourishes and politically incorrect innuendo, Gang War in Milan generally appears to be an exploitative cheapie of its time. Makeup and costume designs are gloriously overblown, and one glance at Sobato’s zanily colorful pimp’s crib (and that ornate yellow and black robe!) perhaps best exemplifies the grandiose flair Lenzi and cinematographer Lamberto Caimi (who worked on famous titles from Ermanno Olmi and Alberto Lattauda) are going for. Sobato’s shameless, misogynistic pimp is reminiscent of a very young Burt Reynolds, and he delivers an entertaining performance here. Despite his repulsive character, we’re somehow led to root for him as he’s backed into a corner on all fronts.

The treatment of women, to be sure, is contemptible, his hookers taking the violent brunt of the gangland retaliation. And what goes hand in hand with a little woman hating? Why, a helping of homophobia. La Capitaine is outed while in bed with a young drag queen, a secret that’s hinted at when he tortures Toto’s best friend Lino (Antonio Casagrande) by electrocuting his genitals. Meanwhile, Austrian actress Marisa Mell, heavily made up and tasked with playing a woman a decade younger than she is (direct reference is made to her age) gets to play the silly eye candy that has to say things like, “Don’t worry, I’m not frigid or a lesbian,” when she initially rebuffs Sobato. These things aside, Gang War in Milan is good enough for a vintage laugh. Though it still feels like a minor exercise in Lenzi’s filmography, it’s at least an interesting example of the director’s work when he was near the height of his powers and before he slumped into competing with out-cannibalizing Ruggero Deodato.

Film: ★★½/☆☆☆☆☆
Disc: ★★★½/☆☆☆☆☆