made with
sorry for the mistakes!
La polizia chiede aiuto
The newspaper "La Stampa" at the time wrote that the title had to be
“Victoria Story Procuratore della Repubblica”, then changed
to what we know. Our fixation for the titles in this last period (yes,
we always start from those), leads us to think, this time, that "La
polizia chiede aiuto", is better than the alleged first title but
unfortunately it is trivial for what we see. Trivial and at great risk
of underestimating an amazing film, which skilfully travels between the
poliziottesco and the thriller in Dario Argento’s style.
The director is Massimo Dallamano, who here masterfully manages the
various aspects of a story that don’t split hairs. Yes, of
course, "La polizia chiede aiuto" is basically a commercial film, but
is one that is not afraid to talk about youth prostitution and with
detailed descriptions. There are bloody murders, disturbing nudes and
above all, as often happened in the seventies, they talk about of
strong powers that not only cover up everything, but exploit the people
and the new generations.
Dallamano as mentioned, manages to mix two different genres,
sublimating everything in a long sequence of a murder in a hospital,
complete with a gloved and covered killer followed by a long chase
through the streets in pure poliziottesco style.
Removing inevitable imperfections (see the dummy of the beginning), "La
polizia chiede aiuto"is an interesting film, which still today does not
lose its strength, thanks to the annoyance generated by the central
theme (youth prostitution, which often returns in the news of today)
and thanks also to the skill of the interpreters.
Claudio Cassinelli, in the role of police Commissioner Silvestri, is as
always a guarantee of an iron policeman but already crushed by life.
Mario Adorf in the role of police Commissioner Valentini is his
shoulder and brings important twist and a bit of melodrama in the
story. And above all, we find Giovanna Ralli, in the role of Sostituto
Procuratore. A character not really in the style of the Roman actress
who, however, with great skill, succeeds in bringing it home. Finally,
Franco Fabrizi, in the filthy role of a photographer who joins the
whole story.
In an unspecified location in northern Italy (the film was shot in the
Brescia area), the half-naked and hanged body of fifteen-year-old
Silvia Polvesi (Sherry Buchanan at her debut) is found in a flat,
thanks to an anonymous phone call. Silvestri, Valentini and Vittoria
Stori (Giovanna Ralli) soon investigate what is identified as murder.
Suspects, friends of the victim, all under pressure and then the
discovery of a tape on which several quite intimate dialogues are
recorded, linking Silvia's death with a circle of youth prostitution
which also includes police Commissioner Valentini's daughter.
Deposition after deposition and new bloody murders, at the hands of a
young butcher, lead to a name of a well-known doctor who runs the
prostitution on behalf of rather well-known clients, including the
inevitable politician. Of course, the thing cannot be made known and in
the intense final scene it is clear that the leaders of the police
prefer to close the investigation.
A great chapter, made even more interesting by the music of Cipriani, in part already heard in "La Polizia sta a guardare".
