Poliziotteschi constitute a subgenre of crime and action films that emerged in Italy in the late 1960s and reached the height of their popularity in the 1970s. They are also known as polizieschi all'italiana, Euro-crime, Italo-crime, spaghetti crime films, or simply Italian crime films. Influenced by both 1970s French crime films and gritty 1960s and 1970s American cop films and vigilante films, poliziotteschi films were made amidst an atmosphere of socio-political turmoil in Italy known as Years of Lead and increasing Italian crime rates. The films generally featured graphic and brutal violence, organized crime, car chases, vigilantism, heists, gunfights, and corruption up to the highest levels. The protagonists were generally tough working class loners, willing to act outside a corrupt or overly bureaucratic system.
Maurizio Merli was an Italian film actor and a star of many Italian police thrillers.
Enzo Girolami Castellari is an Italian director, screenwriter and actor.
Violent Naples is a 1976 poliziottesco film directed by Umberto Lenzi. It starred Maurizio Merli, John Saxon and Barry Sullivan, and was the first sequel to Violent Rome and the second entry into the Commissioner Betti Trilogy. Saxon appeared in several such movies.
High Crime is a 1973 Italian-Spanish poliziottesco film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. The film stars Franco Nero, James Whitmore, Delia Boccardo and Fernando Rey. High Crime was a big success at the time of its release, and helped popularize the Italian cop thriller genre.
Detective Belli is a 1969 Italian poliziotteschi directed by Romolo Guerrieri and starring Franco Nero. It is based on the novel Macchie di belletto by Ludovico Dentice.
Marino Girolami was an Italian film director and actor.
Convoy Busters is a 1978 poliziotteschi film directed by Stelvio Massi and starring Maurizio Merli.
Street Law is a 1974 poliziotteschi film. It stars Franco Nero, Barbara Bach and was directed by Enzo G. Castellari.
The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist is an Italian poliziotteschi film directed in 1977 by Umberto Lenzi and third entry into the Tanzi/Moretto/Monnezza shared universe as well as serving as a direct sequel to The Tough Ones. The film was described by Italian film critic and historian Roberto Curti as "a sequel of sorts" to Lenzi's 1976 The Tough Ones, with Maurizio Merli reprising the role of Inspector Leonardo Tanzi.
The Big Racket is a 1976 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Enzo G. Castellari. Fabio Testi stars as a police inspector who takes on a gang of hoodlums who terrorise an Italian city by extorting cash from local shop and bar owners.
Day of the Cobra is a 1980 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Enzo G. Castellari.
Special Cop in Action is a 1976 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Marino Girolami, here credited as Franco Martinelli. The film is the final chapter in the Girolami's Commissioner Betti Trilogy, after Violent Rome and Violent Naples, though a spin-off in the series entitled Weapons of Death would be released the following year.
Fearless is a 1978 poliziottesco film directed by Stelvio Massi.
Highway Racer is a 1977 Italian poliziottesco film directed by Stelvio Massi. It was the first collaboration between Massi and Maurizio Merli, who worked together in six titles between 1977 and 1980.
Weapons of Death is a poliziottesco film directed by Mario Caiano in 1977. It is spin-off from the Commissioner Betti Trilogy as the character of Gennarino returns from the film Violent Naples.
Flatfoot is a 1973 poliziottesco-comedy film directed by Steno. The film starring Bud Spencer obtained a great commercial success, generated three sequels. It is followed by Flatfoot in Hong Kong, Flatfoot in Africa and Flatfoot in Egypt. The title song is performed by Santo & Johnny.
Loaded Guns is a 1975 Italian crime film written and directed by Fernando di Leo and starring Ursula Andress.
Rudeness is a 1975 film directed by Marino Girolami.
Roma, l'altra faccia della violenza is a 1976 "poliziottesco" film directed by Marino Girolami and starring Marcel Bozzuffi.
