“Free Hand for a Tough Cop” (2021 Blu-ray Release of a 1976 Motion Picture) Film Review
By: Joseph Perry (Twitter - Uphill Both Ways Podcast)
Though Italy is arguably best known by genre-film fans for its horror, giallo, and spaghetti western offerings, the country’s poliziotteschi crime and action movies are often a somewhat overlooked blast, too, as evidenced by such output as writer/director Umberto Lenzi’s Free Hand for a Tough Cop (AKA Tough Cop; originally titled Il trucido e lo sbirro; 1976). The film receives a great-looking U.K. Blu-ray version from Fractured Visions this month, and it is a fine entry into the subgenre for newcomers, along with being a fun time for those already familiar with poliziotteschi cinema.
Free Hand for a Tough Cop is actually a comedy crime entry into poliziotteschi, with Claudio Cassinelli portraying no-nonsense cop Antonio Sarti, who uses unconventional methods up front by springing criminal Sergio “Trash Can” Marazzi (Tomas Milian) out of prison to help him track down ruthless no-goodnik Brescinaelli (Henry Silva; name a classic 1960s television drama and he probably made a guest appearance on it, not to mention having a prolific film career that includes Buck Rogers in the 25th Century [1979] and Cannonball Run II [1984]). Brescinaelli has kidnapped an ill little girl who will die within a week if she doesn’t get medical help, and Sarti means to get his man.
Marazzi helps Sarti recruit a group of other heinous, cop-hating individuals, which leads to lots of fisticuffs, gunplay, car chases, intrigue, and humorous situations. The action comes fast and, indeed, furious in Free Hand for a Tough Cop, and if you wonder who the current group of street toughs are that Sarti and company are battling, you’re not alone, as random characters are introduced only to be done away with for another hard-hitting set piece.
Lenzi, who would go on to make such controversial horror fare as the infamous Cannibal Ferox (1981) and Eaten Alive! (1980), aims to entertain here, barely touching on the political angles that many poliziotteschi dove into deeper. If it isn’t action on screen, it’s Milian hamming it up with a mouthful of scenery as the smart alec, streetwise Trash Can.
The Fractured Visions version I was given access to for review is English-dubbed mono audio (the Blu-ray also includes the original Italian mono audio with newly translated English subtitles), and the dubbing is a hoot, with characters including Trash Can running around Rome speaking in exaggerated American East Coast accents. Though mono, the sound is clear, and the picture is sharp with terrific color.
Free Hand for a Tough Cop is a uniquely Italian take on crime films influenced by its American and French cousins. Lenzi packs in as much action as he can, directing it all with aplomb, and Milian’s performance is something to see. This release comes highly recommended for fans of Eurocrime and those hankering for some 1970s good guys vs. bad guys action — or in this case, a good guy and some bad guys vs. bad guys.
Free Hand for a Tough Cop is on U.K. Blu-ray from November 29, 2021 from Fractured Visions. To order, visit https://www.fracvis.co.uk/.
Joseph Perry is one of the hosts of When It Was Cool’s exclusive Uphill Both Ways podcast (whenitwascool.com/up-hill-both-ways-podcast/). He also writes for the film websites Diabolique Magazine (diaboliquemagazine.com), Gruesome Magazine (gruesomemagazine.com), The Scariest Things (scariesthings.com), and Horror Fuel (horrorfuel.com), and film magazines Phantom of the Movies’ VideoScope (videoscopemag.com) and Drive-In Asylum (etsy.com/shop/GroovyDoom).
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