(154) BLOOD & DIAMONDS (1977) Barbara Bouchet | Fernando Di Leo
6138DVD
original
Italian title DIAMANTI SPORCHI DI DE SANGUE [Diamonds Stained
with Blood]
director: Fernando Di Leo
starring Claudio Cassinelli · Barbara Bouchet · Martin Balssam · Olga
Karlatos · Pier Pablo Capponi
Not to
be confused with Sergio Bergonzelli's DIAMOND
CONNECTION (which also starred Barbara Bouchet), this one is directed
by Polizi-action master Fernando Di Leo. Caudio Cassanelli plays safecracker
Guido Mauri, busted and imprisoned for five years. Guido quietly serves
his time but, when finally released, girlfriend Maria (Olga Karlatos in
a small but important role) is attacked and murdered by two masked gunmen.
He retaliates by killing them both, but 'knows' local gangster
boss Rizzo (Martin Balsam) is really behind all his problems. Guido soon
befriends Lisa (Barbara Bouchet, essentially playing the same 'dancer'
role as in Fernando Di Leo's earlier MILANO
CALIBER 9) and they brew a steamy relationship until mob boss
Rizzo unleashes his wrath.
Director Fernando
Di Leo would leave his police/crime roots after this film, moving instead
into the thriller arena with the controversial TO
BE TWENTY and MADNESS
(Vacation for a Massacre). He is generally considered the best of
the European Crime directors, elevating the Italian gangster film to an
art form. Besides mastering that genre, he is known for the quintessential
horror sleaze BEAST
KILLS IN COLD BLOOD (SLAUGHTER HOTEL) and a disturbing Lolita
story SEDUCTION.
Mr Di Leo retired in 1985; he died from a stroke in December 2003 at age
71.
An
Italian film in English language; widescreen format,
uncut 103 minutes, DVD Package encoded for ALL REGION NTSC FORMAT.
Extras include
selected trailers.
Violence/Nudity/Drugs
Recommended for Mature Audiences
