The Eurocrime or Poliziotesschi subgenre was quite popular during the early 70s. It followed the even more popular subgenre of the Spaghettiwestern. Like the spaghettiwesterns, the Eurocrime films are mostly cheap made action flicks. Their quality is often pretty poor. Milano Calibre 9 is an exception. The film feels cheap in its execution but the plot is well told (apart from a boring subplot at the police station), great character actors and a wonderful main theme. Perhaps the main reason this film is above the average Eurocrime film, is that the action is sparse (but intense). Later films would sometimes consist of nothing more but action scenes, fight scenes, car chases and what have you. Here, apart from a shootout in the climax, the film focuses more on plot, character and mood and is all the better for it.
Review of Caliber 9
