VIOLENT CITY On Blu-ray From Kino

 

VIOLENT CITY is a 1970 Italian crime drama starring Charles Bronson and Telly Savalas. I had never seen the film, and didn't really know anything about it...but when I found out that Kino's Blu-ray release of it was going to feature three versions of the movie, I figured why not take a chance? 

First of all, it has to be said that this not a typical "Bronson plays a loner tough guy who gets violent revenge on a bunch of scumbags" flick. This isn't a Cannon movie from the 1980s. VIOLENT CITY was directed by Spaghetti Western legend Sergio Sollima, and among its many screenwriters was Lina Wertmuller, of all people. This film is considered an example of the Euro Crime genre, but I would call it more of a "Euro Noir". There's plenty of action here, but characterization and plot are also very important. 

Charles Bronson plays professional hit man Jeff Heston, who at the beginning of the story is enjoying himself in the Virgin Islands with his girlfriend, model Vanessa (Jill Ireland). While there Jeff survives an assassination attempt by a former employer, who goes away with Vanessa. Jeff spends two years in jail, and after getting out he makes plans to get revenge on those who set him up. But his plans are upset by a crime boss (Telly Savalas) who wants to use Jeff's talents as a killer, and the seductive Vanessa. Jeff learns that despite his supposed independent status, he's been a pawn all along. 

VIOLENT CITY starts out with a impressively executed ten minute dialogue-free car chase, at actual locations on the Virgin Islands. The story then moves to various unique locations in New Orleans and Louisiana, and Jeff even ventures to the Michigan International Speedway in his quest for revenge. Sergio Sollima makes great use of these real-life sites, giving the entire production a notable look. Sollima's handling of the climatic sequence--also without dialogue--is superb. (I have to say I felt this sequence had a giallo type of feel to it.)

Charles Bronson plays what would be considered a usual role for him. The exception here is that Bronson's taciturn efficient killer thinks he's in control of the situation, when he isn't by far. Telly Savalas doesn't show up until about an hour in the film, and he doesn't get a lot of scenes, but he does give an enjoyable slant to what would normally be just another big shot gangster. 

It is Jill Ireland's Vanessa who the story really revolves around. In most of the films in which Ireland appeared with her husband Bronson, one got the feeling that she was grafted onto the production just to please her spouse. Here, Ireland's character is very important, and she's very sexy as a femme fatale, showing lots of skin (or at least her body double does). 

VIOLENT CITY also features a fantastic score by Ennio Morricone. The ominous music lays the foundation for all the deceit and betrayal to come, and I was so impressed with it I bought the CD of the score. 

As mentioned before, there are three versions of VIOLENT CITY on this two-disc Region A Blu-ray from Kino. The first disc has a full-length version of VIOLENT CITY, with English titles and a English voice track, with a few scenes in Italian with English subtitles. This version is 109 minutes, and the picture and sound quality is very good. 

Disc Two has the Italian version of the film, CITTA' VIOLENTA. The entire voice track is in Italian, with English subtitles (hearing Bronson and Savalas speak in dubbed Italian is a strange experience). The running time is also 109 minutes, but the colors on the print of this version are very bold and colorful--so much so that at times they look unnatural. 

Disc Two also features a 1973 American version of the film, re-titled THE FAMILY. This was an attempt to cash in on THE GODFATHER--the font used for the new title in the credits even resembles that used for Coppola's blockbuster. (The thing is, VIOLENT CITY is not a standard organized crime tale). This version runs 96 minutes, it has mediocre sound & picture quality, and it has some very choppy editing. All three of the versions of VIOLENT CITY included in this release have a 2.35:1 aspect ratio. 

The main extra, found on Disc One, is a new audio commentary by Paul Talbot, who has written multiple books about Charles Bronson's movie career. Talbot gives out plenty of info on the cast and crew, and the making of the film, but he also has a tendency to describe exactly what the viewer is already seeing on the screen. 

A 2002 short interview with Sergio Sollima is also included, in which the director gives some interesting details on the making of the film. There's also a number of trailers for other movies released by Kino that star Bronson. 

The Blu-ray comes with a cardboard sleeve (see picture above) while the disc case has a reversible cover--the other side features the title THE FAMILY. 

I enjoyed VIOLENT CITY very much. Its European origins give it a different vibe than the typical crime-revenge thriller. VIOLENT CITY has a few elements in common with Charles Bronson's later THE MECHANIC, but it is a much more stylish and better made film. The inclusion of three versions of the movie makes this is a worthy release from Kino.