1 / 8
RUNTIME
Did you know
88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
Detective Malone
1991 1h 28m IT
🙌
7.7
BANGER
⭐
4.2
IMDB
★7.7TMDB · 3★4.2IMDB · 77
ActionCrime
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
A gang of terrorists kidnap an electronics engineer, hold him hostage, and demand he create a security system for their compound.
“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”
Cast
Fred Williamson
Detective Robert Malone
Bruno Bilotta
Caleb Sakur
Bobby Rhodes
Detective Jackson
Gaetano Russo
Barry Wilson
Elena Wiedermann
Evelin Wilson
Maurice Poli
Max Walker
Ned Hourani
Mustapha
Najid Jadali
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Umberto Lenzi
- Writers
- Gaetano Russo, Gaetano Russo
- Languages
- Italian, English
- 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 🍿
2 / 8
ERA
Did you know
35 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
CINEMA
Did you know
Part of the "The Black Cobra Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Umberto Lenzi, shot by John Wyler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Detto Mariano. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Vanio Amici shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Umberto Lenzi directs. John Wyler behind the camera. Detto Mariano scores. Vanio Amici cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian, English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
- 235 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
- 3Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Italian, English.
- 4Part of the "The Black Cobra Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
- 5Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
- 6Directed by Umberto Lenzi, shot by John Wyler. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 7Original score by Detto Mariano. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 8Editor Vanio Amici shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 9Fred Williamson and Bruno Bilotta and Bobby Rhodes carry the top of the cast.
- 10IMDB entry: tt0099414 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 11Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
The technical file
- Cinematography
- John Wyler
- Original score
- Detto Mariano
- Editing
- Vanio Amici
- Runtime
- 88 min · 1h 28m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- IT
- IMDB rating
- 4.2/10 · 77 votes
Part of
The Black Cobra Collection
The Black Cobra collection is a series of Italian-made action films starring Fred Williamson.
Also by
Umberto Lenzi
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Key crew
- ScreenstoryGaetano Russo
- EditorVanio Amici
Release history · US
When it landed
- Physical1991-10-31
Also known as
International titles
- Black Cobra 4US
