La mala ordina

The Italian Connection
File:La mala ordina.jpg
Directed by	Fernando Di Leo
Produced by	Armando Novelli
Written by	Fernando Di Leo, Augusto Finocchi and Ingo Hermes
Starring	Mario Adorf Henry Silva Woody Strode Adolfo Celi
Music by	Armando Trovajoli
Cinematography	Franco Villa
Release dates	September 1, 1972
Running time	95 min.
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

La mala ordina (aka The Italian Connection) is a poliziottesco film written and directed by the Italian crime film specialist Fernando Di Leo in 1972. It is the second part of Di Leo's Milieu Trilogy, starting with Milano calibro 9 in 1972 and ending with Il Boss (The Boss) in 1973. It had also been released under a number of titles including The Italian Connection, Manhunt in Milan, Manhunt, Hired to Kill and Black Kingpin.

Plot

Small-time pimp Luca Canali (Mario Adorf) is hunted by both local mobsters and two killers (Henry Silva and Woody Strode) sent by the New York mafia after a shipment of heroin fails to arrive. But it becomes apparent he is not as soft as he appears as a deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out on the streets of Milan. The film contains a dramatic chase scene where Canali pursues an assassin both on car and on foot.

The two American hitmen have contrasting personalities. Dave (Silva) is something of a playboy and loudmouth, while Frank (Strode) is quiet and professional. The concept of two hitmen teamed up, one black and one white, appears to have been a likely inspiration for the characters played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction.

Cast

• Mario Adorf - Luca Canali
• Henry Silva - Dave Catania
• Woody Strode - Frank Webster
• Adolfo Celi - Don Vito Tressoldi
• Luciana Paluzzi - Eva Lalli
• Franco Fabrizi - Enrico Moroni
• Femi Benussi - Nana
• Gianni Macchia - Nicolo
• Peter Berling - Damiano
• Francesca Romana Coluzzi - Trini
• Cyril Cusack - Corso
• Sylva Koscina - Lucia Canali
• Jessica Dublin - Miss Kenneth
• Omero Capanna - Vito's Goon
• Giuseppe Castellano - Garagaz
• Lara Wendel - Rita

External links

• La mala ordina at IMDb