This movie tells the story of a secret organization of former police officers, who go beyond the law to kill notorious criminals without trial. One police inspector (intense performance: Enrico Maria Salerno) tries to stop them, but the attorney (Mario Adorf) is not convinced by his conspiracy theories, so the inspector is basically on his own and can trust nobody.
Sounds a bit like Clint Eastwood's 'Magnum Force' which was released more than a year later, though. So in 1972, 'La Polizia ringrazia' must have seemed provocative and quite original. More than just a crime story, it is discussing political and social subjects such as death penalty, when the inspector points out they had that during the years of fascism which nobody would want back, or the press conference on the bus about the protection of prostitution. Director Steno is mostly known for his comedies with Toto or Bud Spencer - such a dark, pessimistic movie was unusual for him. The menacing soundtrack courtesy of Stelvio Cipriani adds to the effect, as the simple, repetitive, almost brutal chords suit the violence on the screen. An intelligent work of cinema that stands the test of time 40 years later very well, because it mostly avoids the genre clichés.
Sounds a bit like Clint Eastwood's 'Magnum Force' which was released more than a year later, though. So in 1972, 'La Polizia ringrazia' must have seemed provocative and quite original. More than just a crime story, it is discussing political and social subjects such as death penalty, when the inspector points out they had that during the years of fascism which nobody would want back, or the press conference on the bus about the protection of prostitution. Director Steno is mostly known for his comedies with Toto or Bud Spencer - such a dark, pessimistic movie was unusual for him. The menacing soundtrack courtesy of Stelvio Cipriani adds to the effect, as the simple, repetitive, almost brutal chords suit the violence on the screen. An intelligent work of cinema that stands the test of time 40 years later very well, because it mostly avoids the genre clichés.