Franco Nero and his moustache get into trouble in Street Law (1974) when he is taken hostage in a bank robbery. The opening credits have already spelled out that the city is rampant with robberies and murders, backed by the beautiful soundtrack work of Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (the prog-rock stoner jam of ‘Goodbye Friend’ is a raucous opening track). Beaten and humiliated, but left alive, Nero’s character is angered by police inactivity and decides to make his own investigation – even though he’s a chemical engineer without any training, weapons or skills. I appreciated that this Death Wish type story didn’t lean into the usual trope of someone brutalising and murdering his wife or family; his wife is played by Barbara Bach who is wasted in a nothing role but is also nicely left alone. Here, it’s more about damaged masculinity and the movie’s contention that Citizens need to Rise Up, which is all pretty ham-bone stuff. Nero is compellingly over-the-top – haunted eyes and flailing limbs – as he barges his way with his slightly grey hair and blue turtleneck into a criminal underworld and gets in over his head. Once Nero makes an acquaintance, a petty crook played by Giancarlo Prete (from Escape From The Bronx and The New Barbarians; he always gives me a Paul Rieser vibe) becomes his guide and partner into squaring off against the three bank robbers, the movies kicks into gear. There are some amazing slow-motion man versus car chases (the shot of Nero running away from a car is a thing of beauty) and a climactic warehouse shoot-out where Nero slings a formidable shotgun. Directed by Enzo G Castellari and a HD quality copy was available to stream on YouTube; I still have yet to see the other big Poliziotteschi/Eurocrime movie from Castellari and Nero, High Crime, which they made before this one. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 