Roma come Chicago (Banditi a Roma)

A straight-up Italian crime film about a couple of brothers who go around committing hold-ups. This is brought extra gravitas by John Cassavetes in the main role, but he underplays his part here and tends to be overshone by others. The film itself is rather middle of the road, with some exciting moments and greater character depth than expected, but it only really shines towards the climax.

I thought John Cassavetes was good here, But Nikos Kourkoulos as Enrico was way Better! Kourkoulos is the Star attraction and played as The Main Man of the Film! You know I'm surprised as to why not wasn't this film given Full Awards, it has Top Actors, action of the very Best kind, suspense, the women actors who took part in this amazing Block buster are excellent too... The first film I saw with Nikos Kourkoulos was "Oratoths Mhden" I was only 10 years old back then at the Paramount theatre in Oalkeigh. And that very popular film was actually one of his best! And so my first impressions of Nikos Kourkoulos were just perfect/excellent!! I am rather surprised however why there was no photo of Enrico/the Best Actor in the world the Superstar NIKOS KOURKOULOS???!!!

Kindest regards,

Alex Demirci(Demertzis).

John CASSAVETES as a slick gangster in Rome

It's the old story: A beautiful mannequin (Anita Sanders) gets involved with a windy charmer (John Cassavetes), who often does very crooked things with his buddy (very evil: Nikos Kourkoulos). Of course that doesn't suit the inspector (Gabriele Ferzetti). And so what has to happen happens. One friend is arrested, the other wants to take over, including the beautiful woman! The old drama, told again and again!

With this film, successful producer Dino De LAURENTIIS (Silvana MANGANO's husband) started the wave of Italian crime films that would ensure CINECITTA's income and livelihood until the early 1980s. Beautiful pictures of Rome, up and down the Via Veneto and also the luxury shops on the Via Condotti are appreciated in detail. 320 million ITL were sold in the domestic box office.

John Cassavetes was simply on a roll after The Dirty Dozen and Rosemary's Baby. Back then, no one could manage this engaging self-satisfaction as well as he did. The still quite young Giancarlo Prete (1943-2001) has a small appearance.

Not bad, but not a big hit yet! It wasn't supposed to come out in the Poliziottesco genre until 1972!

The only reason to watch this is John Cassavetes.But not only the screenplay is almost devoid of interest but you should also know that half of the movie is Cassavetesless.When he's in jail,he's content to take a back seat and let his pals do the job and the audience is frustrated.Some often say that Cassavetes 's acting in other people's movie was just a job that paid the rent:not true because this very year 1968 saw Cassavetes going to a peak of his actor's career with his unforgettable Guy Woodhouse in "Rosemary's baby"."Roma come Chicago" (check the title) desperately tries to make the audience believe there're watching an American thriller,in spite of an all-Italian cast.More violent than the average thriller of the era though,and what will become of the child?

A film also screened in some countries under the title : " Murder on Via Veneto " . Artistically speaking this movie is worth nothing , a gangster cat and mouse game directed by A.Martino , a director known for his cheap spaghetti westerns and peplums ( Django & Sartana , Ringo , Ercole....). So what on earth is the great John Cassavetes doing in this movie ? Looking to earn some money as an actor ? I don't think so , because it's a low budget drama . The only memorable moments of the film are of course the scenes where Cassavetes is in , so if you have nothing to do check this movie out as a curiosity . If not re-watch Sergio Leone's :" Once upon a time in America" and forget Martino.