The director of Death Walks On High Heels tries his hand at the crime genre and gives us a film that to me has the same tone and pace as his gialli. That's not a bad thing, mind you, but this is a more realistic film that you'd expect from the Eurocrime genre.Cassanelli plays a narcotics detective who keeps caught up in something more complex than drug trafficking when, while tailing a dealer, a young myopic kid runs into the hotel the dealer is staying at, trying to get everyone to run from a bomb he claims is planted there. He runs off before the bomb explodes, killing a dozen people and setting Cassanelli on a path to find the short sighted kid based purely on the glasses he left behind. Trouble ensues as Arthur Kennedy is put in charge of the investigation...and he still playing the stubborn cop from the Living Dead At the Manchester Morgue! That means he hates Cassanelli and won't listen to him, by the way.We also get to meet the bombers and a shadowy organisation that seem to be behind it all, a plot device that's occurring quite frequently in 1975's Italian crime films. Director Ercoli does throw in the odd bit of quirkiness, like the blind kid having to go to an opticians for new glasses and nearly getting caught, only for him to spend the rest of the film with those steel frames they make you wear while testing lenses. There's also a lot of focus on Cassanelli's investigation and a lot of time spent on his partner's nervous disorder following someone holding a gun on him, so don't expect massive shootouts or car chases.HD is not kind to Arthur Kennedy I notice. Cassanelli still looks hunky though.

"La Polizia ha le mani legate" (better known on these shores as "Killer Cop") is a somewhat different than usual kind of entry in the "poliziotteschi" film genre. For one thing, it takes itself somewhat more seriously. In fact, those who are expecting a lot of action will be somewhat disappointed, since there isn't that much action. In fact, the main character played by Claudio Cassinelli doesn't become the exact English title character until the last ten or so minutes of the movie! Instead, the movie focuses more on the investigation and bureaucracy aspects. While this focus is a little slow and plodding at times, surprisingly for the most part it's actually pretty interesting. It moves from scene to scene at a fairly brisk pace, so you won't get bored, Also, you'll wonder if Claudio Cassinelli 's character will be able to succeed when the odds are against him, and that creates some genuine tension and suspense. There are other good features here and there, such as Stelvio Cipriani's catchy musical score and decent production values. Also, the few times when there are action are pretty well executed. Mindless action junkies may be a little let down by this movie, but if you are in a mood for a more realistic and serious Italian crime flick, give this one a try.

Ever since Clint Eastwood delivered that immortal speech in Dirty Harry, Italy; king of cheap rip-off films, began production on a number of cheap crime films; many of which were stylish comic book affairs; but not this one. Despite its rather silly title; Luciano Ercoli's Killer Cop is actually an entirely serious Italian crime thriller (or 'Poliziotteschi'), that handles themes such as murder and terrorism. My main reason for seeing this film was because it's directed by Luciano Ercoli; the same underrated director behind the unfairly criticised 'Death Walks at Midnight', and the supremely sexy 'The Forbidden Photos of a Lady Above Suspicion'. However, I'm also becoming a big fan of Italian crime films (already a big fan of Giallo), and this is one of the best that I've seen. Typically for Italian cinema, the plot is overly complicated; and it picks up after the explosion of a bomb in a hotel lobby. We then follow the convoluted investigation into the bombing through the eyes of a young police detective.Luciano Ercoli only directed a handful of films, and that's a shame as he did a really good job with his Giallo's, and this film makes a mark too. It can be a bit irritating at times, as several plot threads that don't really go anywhere creep into the plot; but Ercoli orchestrates it well, and several scenes; such as the end shoot-out in a train station and an earlier pivotal scene in a hotel room are tense and exciting. Ercoli does well in implementing a good gritty atmosphere, which bodes well with the idea of someone callously blowing up a hotel lobby. The investigation into the crime is well rounded, and although there is too much emphasis on the police procedure at times, the film mostly manages to stay away from boredom for its ninety minute duration. Claudio Cassinelli puts in a good lead performance and receives good feedback from a host of lesser known actors; although unlike most Italian films, this one doesn't feature much female flesh; and it's a shame that there's no role for Ercoli's muse, Susan Scott. Overall, while this isn't a top quality Italian film - it's certainly good enough to warrant tracking down and comes recommended to fans of Italian cinema.

Shot in a beautiful techniscope and released in France with the quite bizarre title "BOITE À FILLETTES" on the print (VHS cover gives LA POLICE A LES MAINS LIEES as box title !) though there is no virgin nymph involved by the plot whatsoever, it is a rare and interesting testimony of the political situation in Italy near the 75's. Atmosphere is quite dense and heavy, since it tells the story of a judge (Athur Kennedy) and a Police officer (Claudio Cassinelli) wandering between "Red Brigade" and "Black Section" of Secret Services on the other wings... the bombing sequence is very well-made and the Milano outdoors takes are, as usual in Italian thriller of that time and genre, very realistic. Very pessimistic and dark movie since Franco Fabrizzi dies, then Arthur Kennedy is said by end titles to be soon murdered (good side) and all the bad ones too are dying except their undercover (not for the spectator)leaders.