A Special Cop in Action

1976 1h 38m IT

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 27

ThrillerActionCrime

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A school bus with young children being kidnapped. Commissario Betti will solve the case. High action is promised, including hostage, bank robberies, car chases, prison scenes and mafia bosses!

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Maurizio Merli
Commissioner Betti
John Saxon
Albertelli
Mirella D'Angelo
Luisa
Raymond Pellegrin
Commissioner Arpino
Toni Ucci
Raffaele Cacace
Daniele Dublino
Luzzi
Sergio Fiorentini
Salvatore Mancuso
Franco Borelli
Bertoli

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Marino Girolami
Writers: Vincenzo Mannino, Gianfranco Clerici, Leila Buongiorno
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Inspector Betti Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Marino Girolami, shot by Fausto Zuccoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Franco Micalizzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Vincenzo Tomassi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Maurizio Merli and John Saxon and Mirella D'Angelo carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0179901 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 27 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Marino Girolami directs. Fausto Zuccoli behind the camera. Franco Micalizzi scores. Vincenzo Tomassi cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Part of the "Inspector Betti Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
3Directed by Marino Girolami, shot by Fausto Zuccoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Franco Micalizzi. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Vincenzo Tomassi shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Maurizio Merli and John Saxon and Mirella D'Angelo carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0179901 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 27 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Fausto Zuccoli
Original score: Franco Micalizzi
Editing: Vincenzo Tomassi
Production design: Antonio Visone
Costume design: Silvana Scandariato
Makeup / hair: Pietro Tenoglio
Stunt coordinator: Goffredo Unger
Runtime: 98 min · 1h 38m
Status: Released
Original language: IT
IMDB: A Special Cop in Action (1976)

Part of

Inspector Betti Collection

Inspector Betti is a fictional character created by Marino Girolami and Vincenzo Mannino and portrayed by Maurizio Merli; he appeared in the "Inspector trilogy," comprising the films "Violent Rome" (1975), "Violent Naples" (1976), and "A Special Cop in Action" (1976). The sequel/spin-off "Weapons of Death" was released in 1977, featuring Inspector Belli (played by Leonard Mann) as Betti's replacement. Gennarino—a child character who had already appeared in "Violent Naples" —also makes an appearance.