ROCK HUDSON, ROBERT MITCHUM, ELLEN BURSTYN 'THE AMBASSADOR'

<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIN-moCQOHiIgvhg3EVdT-QnBQnKqYShlI1XJa-1HLFd-2mohquD0f-qVd2fBFgp-tZd0fT7zQKcckmlJcCGDm9cogzO28CzM44jnUfiJWH0RrSb5jeX3gmav5KjdjHCdt1lC6u5K5iMlwqQemXDODi4qT4npaOCSotpuK80hplovuu7h8URQPg5Kq52_/s1886/Screen%20Shot%202026-02-09%20at%201.45.15%20PM%203.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1886" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIN-moCQOHiIgvhg3EVdT-QnBQnKqYShlI1XJa-1HLFd-2mohquD0f-qVd2fBFgp-tZd0fT7zQKcckmlJcCGDm9cogzO28CzM44jnUfiJWH0RrSb5jeX3gmav5KjdjHCdt1lC6u5K5iMlwqQemXDODi4qT4npaOCSotpuK80hplovuu7h8URQPg5Kq52_/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202026-02-09%20at%201.45.15%20PM%203.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Rock Hudson in THE AMBASSADOR Year: 1984 Rating: **</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Not to sound juvenile, since Ellen Burstyn is not only a personal favorite actress but one of the greatest, most genuine of all time... but she looks incredible naked, co-starring opposite Robert Mitchum and Rock Hudson in Cannon Films' first of two adaptations of Elmore Leonard's thriller 52 PICK-UP that, instead of a criminal neo-noir, takes place in the Middle East involving the Israelis against the PLO...<br><br>Where an aged and haggard Mitchum plays Burstyn's monotone, aloof, cuckolded husband, the titular AMBASSADOR blackmailed by a sex-tape between his wife and Arab stud Fabio Testi... <br></p><p><span></span></p>

cannon, eighties, ellen burstyn, elmore leonard, espionage, fabio testi, j. lee thompson, robert mitchum, rock hudson, thriller

ROCK HUDSON, ROBERT MITCHUM, ELLEN BURSTYN 'THE AMBASSADOR'

Rock Hudson in THE AMBASSADOR Year: 1984 Rating: ** Not to sound juvenile, since Ellen Burstyn is not only a personal favorite actress but o...

FABIO TESTI AND SAL BORGESE IN ITALIAN CRIME 'THE BIG RACKET'

<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcunJqmBPSsBcxKEKc-jwGclLVNxgjExs-jvvBBp7Mi2MdYdXFK1sQcsAvE-B_duXfY9XO0-rOF2FLA42A4kzmQPhmqKz9Y7Lz1plhCV2lEWfwPspgv3TPwyTglAxmzd8j7hsN1bBym3LxrYIHQjAKkl224a1-mM8-ZFmbrnNkmE0VfZ1mFRCxhlm3Wdi/s1578/Screen%20Shot%202024-12-03%20at%206.16.22%20AM%202.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRcunJqmBPSsBcxKEKc-jwGclLVNxgjExs-jvvBBp7Mi2MdYdXFK1sQcsAvE-B_duXfY9XO0-rOF2FLA42A4kzmQPhmqKz9Y7Lz1plhCV2lEWfwPspgv3TPwyTglAxmzd8j7hsN1bBym3LxrYIHQjAKkl224a1-mM8-ZFmbrnNkmE0VfZ1mFRCxhlm3Wdi/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-12-03%20at%206.16.22%20AM%202.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: </u><u>THE BIG RACKET </u><u>Year: 1977 Rating: ***1/2</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>While nearly all gritty 1970's crime flicks are thematically modern westerns, Italian action auteur Enzo G. Castellari's THE BIG RACKET should have been one, literally: pitting cop Fabio Testi against a ferocious gang of ultra-violent thugs (spouting perhaps the worst dialogue ever): ferociously working for the director's stock-villain Joshua Sinclair...  </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Initially raiding random businesses for the usual collecting of contrived protection money: but this central town is far too large, busy and downright modern (as in, not rural enough) for such a formidably contained takeover to seem logical or realistic, ironically making this RACKET a b-movie that actually spent too much money for its own good... </p><p><span></span></p>

action, cop, crime, enzo g. castellari, exploitation, fabio testi, italian, sal borgese, seventies, stefania girolami goodwin

FABIO TESTI AND SAL BORGESE IN ITALIAN CRIME 'THE BIG RACKET'

Title: THE BIG RACKET Year: 1977 Rating: ***1/2 While nearly all gritty 1970's crime flicks are thematically modern westerns, Italian ac...

OLIVER REED AND FABIO TESTI ITALIAN CRIME FLICK 'REVOLVER'

<p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzqe3e5SbKoh58txrGN4L0xsHCOtALR1aIYXNLU7hNapc8XK1P8W14ayo8YB7a6bOogcWpyrgG-XXpxxRb04OS7inTDGXkU-b3KNc2gSnwGGnZM3Nk6-i2GVmlpt5BPmy8HQbNuJB-f8g4uTbgxsNjr2QgAo_khMfoU8hH7OXUX7MzT90Qld4ZOmh0-Go/s1904/22.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1904" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbzqe3e5SbKoh58txrGN4L0xsHCOtALR1aIYXNLU7hNapc8XK1P8W14ayo8YB7a6bOogcWpyrgG-XXpxxRb04OS7inTDGXkU-b3KNc2gSnwGGnZM3Nk6-i2GVmlpt5BPmy8HQbNuJB-f8g4uTbgxsNjr2QgAo_khMfoU8hH7OXUX7MzT90Qld4ZOmh0-Go/s16000/22.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: REVOLVER Year: 1973 Rating: ***1/2</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Clever premise of a prison warden in genuine tough guy and here, promoted ex-cop Oliver Reed... who surreptitiously allows a prisoner to escape before abducting him in exchange for his (own) kidnapped wife between steely, intentionally claustrophobic scenes in dingy offices harboring dingier jail sells... </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The best moments involves uptight lawman Reed (described as "a stray dog without a home") and co-star Fabio Testi's initially reluctant, affable criminal teamed-up on the run — in the latter's rogue territory... </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yVlmqaOZn283UyaZ2FQuwo8kDKWoY_IEbmdXoPafZNByQ_LTg7X9oEDmkIluud2R0Fo1z5MUfrbTtPe7Q1c5QYqHe_OnlSHf9SOQKjYvv_B_UHd9pbAh28tdCndKV7h0idbLX1uNJlS6d4Sm1xJYg2oiB6Ec27dHHsAyj04gEVtvZNzxn0jJ_7p4DLdP/s2134/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-17%20at%202.13.50%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="2134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yVlmqaOZn283UyaZ2FQuwo8kDKWoY_IEbmdXoPafZNByQ_LTg7X9oEDmkIluud2R0Fo1z5MUfrbTtPe7Q1c5QYqHe_OnlSHf9SOQKjYvv_B_UHd9pbAh28tdCndKV7h0idbLX1uNJlS6d4Sm1xJYg2oiB6Ec27dHHsAyj04gEVtvZNzxn0jJ_7p4DLdP/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-17%20at%202.13.50%20AM.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Oliver Reed in REVOLVER</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As the petty thief teaching the strict, timid lawman to steal a car a standout, and there needed more of this kind of Film Noir-inspired ambiguity beyond a meandering subplot involving a flaky musician connected to a powerful politician — while an uncompromising Reed, with an overly-pronounced American accent he's previously used satirically, doesn't overact to show the love for his wife (an insanely gorgeous Agostina Belli), or the needed desperation to cut corners... </p><p>But if only Fabio Testi were given half his partner's infectious intensity and overall motivation instead of coolly underplaying a glib character meant to fit within the buddy-plot plot-line, REVOLVER... with a surging Ennio Morricone score and the usual dose of melodramatic vocal-dubbing... would be more a time-killer than time-filler. </p><p><span></span></p>

action, crime, ennio morricone, escape, fabio testi, frédéric de pasquale, italian, jailbreak, kidnapping, oliver reed, paola pitagora, sergio sollima, seventies, teamup, thriller, wrong man

OLIVER REED AND FABIO TESTI ITALIAN CRIME FLICK 'REVOLVER'

Title: REVOLVER Year: 1973 Rating: ***1/2 Clever premise of a prison warden in genuine tough guy and here, promoted ex-cop Oliver Reed... wh...

FABIO TESTI AND DAVID HEMMINGS TEAM IN 'THE HEROIN BUSTERS'

<p> </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUf4CrASIt068Zy-n3HgEc7W3TEmcvEff4Cu4reYgK-r-L2X8utIr1-iATfKve06UzIzTHi3Xfs09Gnn36j3oi86q-Q1IYX8hyAd9eUSyaOyYuPCd2awUBHqWxOtsH3JItqDRZn_MGbrdgvjzzyIthhF5q48yn2MiBOE-YTNNMCGEoMyCzJtssPI__UTc/s1600/Screen%20Shot%202019-09-16%20at%2012.37.24%20AM.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUf4CrASIt068Zy-n3HgEc7W3TEmcvEff4Cu4reYgK-r-L2X8utIr1-iATfKve06UzIzTHi3Xfs09Gnn36j3oi86q-Q1IYX8hyAd9eUSyaOyYuPCd2awUBHqWxOtsH3JItqDRZn_MGbrdgvjzzyIthhF5q48yn2MiBOE-YTNNMCGEoMyCzJtssPI__UTc/s16000/Screen%20Shot%202019-09-16%20at%2012.37.24%20AM.jpeg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><u>Title: THE HEROIN BUSTERS Year: 1977 Rating: ***</u><u>*</u></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It's initially distracting that, in the first twenty minutes of THE HEROIN BUSTERS, extremely handsome Italian actor Fabio Testi doesn't seem the part of a grungy, emaciated drug-dealer, busted at an airport before helping a junky escape from a dilapidated lockup... which is intentional because he's not what he seems... <br> <br> Meanwhile the true junky, played by Wolfango Soldati, who, to further complicate matters, resembles Testi, initially seems like an important side-character, as does gorgeous TENTACLES starlet Sherry Buchanan as a bisexual model wielding much appreciated gratuitous nudity...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span></span></p>

action, chase, cop, crime, david hemmings, enzo g. castellari, exploitation, fabio testi, joshua sinclair, lesbian, massimo vanni, sherry buchanan, stefania girolami goodwin, wolfango soldati

FABIO TESTI AND DAVID HEMMINGS TEAM IN 'THE HEROIN BUSTERS'

Title: THE HEROIN BUSTERS Year: 1977 Rating: *** * It's initially distracting that, in the first twenty minutes of THE HEROIN BUSTERS, ...