Michele Lupo — Director (8)
Power Kill (1973) [Movie] IMDb Douban
Dio, sei proprio un padreterno!
other title: 贼王杀手 / Il suo nome faceva tremare
Frankie Dio (Lee VanCleef) is a high-ranking mobster who turns himself in to the police or illegal gambling (for reasons that seem unclear to me). Tony (Tony Lo Bianco) is a low-level thug who frequents a pool hall and spends his free time envying Frankie. By being in the right place at the right time, Tony gets arrested with Frankie and is sent to jail... where they form a bond that may not quite be friendship, but it will do for now.
This film came to me under the title of "Frank and Tony", which is disappointing because I see an alternate name is "Mean Frank and Crazy Tony", which would have helped sell the film more effectively. I presume that's an homage to "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" but what do I know? I watched it shortly after another Italian crime film, "Violent Professionals", and I must say the two complement each other very well.
Italians have always lagged behind Americans in their budgets and production values, which is a real shame with this film. It is considered a "grindhouse" film, which unfairly demotes it to a b-movie (or worse). With a cleaner sound and picture, this could have been a Hollywood hit, I suspect. I found the story very interesting, the characters (and actors) better than average and unlike "Violent Professionals" the plot is fairly clear -- not too many secondary characters.
Seven Rebel Gladiators (1965) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
Sette contro tutti
director: Michele Lupo actor: Roger Browne / José Greci
other title: Sieben gegen Alle / 七名反叛角斗士
The ruthless Roman tribune, Vadio, joins forces with the evil Morakeb to take over the throne of Aristea, usurping King Krontal and stealing away his lovely daughter in the process. Meanwhile, Marco Aulo, now a Roman centurion, comes to Aristea to learn where his legions war funds have gone. Vadio has him framed for treason and is thrown into the arena to fight a group of six formidable gladiators. During the fights, Marco refuses to kill those he defeats until finally, he himself loses after exhaustion takes its toll. Admiring this man, the six warriors join him and together they escape Vadio's clutches and plot to free the kingdom from the two conspiring killers. Edited from Mole Men Against the Son of Hercules
Why Did You Pick On Me? (1980) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
Chissà perché... capitano tutte a me
director: Michele Lupo actor: Bud Spencer / Cary Guffey
other title: Não Há Nada que Não Me Aconteça / Buddy haut den Lukas
Following the events of The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid, Sheriff Hall and H-725 (using the official identity of Charlie Warren) still get no rest from the military - because the little alien has not yet grasped the meaning of keeping a low profile. They are constantly on the move, and H-725's father has had to pick them out of a tight spot too many times already.
The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979) [Movie] WikiData IMDb TMDB
Uno sceriffo extraterrestre... poco extra e molto terrestre
director: Michele Lupo actor: Bud Spencer / Raimund Harmstorf
other title: O Xerife Quebra-Ossos / Der Große mit seinem außerirdischen Kleinen
The town of Newnan are seeing little green men everywhere. The military have arrived and are on the lookout for UFOs. Everyone's high strung and Sheriff Hall (Bud Spencer) is left to deal with the aftermaths of the hysteria. On his way home from patrol he happens upon a little boy claiming to be an alien by the name of H7-25. At first the sheriff doesn't believe the boy, but with the mounting evidence, even he must eventually concede. Soon the military is after Sheriff Hall and H7-25, and it is up to the sheriff to keep the boy safe and beat up large swaths of soldiers so H7-25 can go home.
快枪手江湖歼霸 (1966) [Movie] Douban
Arizona Colt
other title: Arizona Colt / Man from Nowhere/他从哪里来
Bandit Gordon frees a group of prisoners, forcing them to join his gang or die. Arizona Colt, declining to do either, heads for Blackstone City where Gordon is planning a robbery. When one of Gordon's men murders saloon girl Dolores, Arizona offers to hunt down the killer for the price of five hundred Dollars and Dolores' sister, Jane
周末杀手 (1970) [Movie] Douban
Concerto per pistola solista
director: Michele Lupo actor: Anna Moffo
other title: Concerto per pistola solista / The Weekend Murders