Street Law
Italy 1974. Director: Enzo G Castellari
Cast: Franco Nero, Giancarlo Prete, Barbara Bach, Romano Puppo
Aka: Il Cittadino Si Ribella

Everyman Franco Nero goes into a bank just when a gang of ruthless criminals storms in for a robbery. Franco doesn't like to have his savings stolen so he objects and for that he is kidnapped by the gang and brutally beaten and left for public humiliation. Back at the police station he then learns that the law can't or won't do much about it so instead he decides to blackmail smalltime bandit Giancarlo Prete into helping him tracking down the robbers. "When the law is unjust it's not only your right but your duty to rebel". Then there's a shoot-out in a big warehouse.

Enzo Castellari's Street Law, sometimes maybe better known as The Anonymous Avenger, was the second collaboration between the director and the star, the first being the more influental High Crime. This time Franco Nero gets to be Charles Bronson, although a very blue-eyed Charles Bronson, and he does it well in typical physical Franco Nero manner as he takes on the underworld Death Wish style. He shouts, he swears, he cries and he is almost run over by a car in one of the greatest chase-scenes ever put on film. Apart from doing many of his own (seemingly dangerous) stunts Franco does his own inimitable English dubbing as well, of course, we can't accept anything else. But Barbara Bach as his chainsmoking girlfriend... I'm sure she put in a fair performance as well but the English dubbing made her sound so annoying I almost cried. She's not on screen that much anyway but I know some folks will want to catch the film for her and her only so a warning is only fair. Anyway, dubbing aside, Street Law is a tough, if slightly melodramatic, little vigilante thriller with loads of incredible stunt work and a killer soundtrack. It's no High Crime but you should seek this bad boy out nevertheless.