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This special limited edition 3-Disc Blu-ray set comes with a spot gloss hard slipcase + slipcover combo (designed by Tony Stella), includes a 40-page perfect bound book, and is limited to 4,000 units. It is only available on our website and at select indie retailers. Absolutely no major retailers will be stocking them.
Welcome Vinegar Syndrome Labs (VSL) to the VS Sub-Label family! As with each of our sub-labels we are hoping to expand and defy expectations with the diversity of films we restore and release. As the name implies, VSL will serve as a kind of testing area for releasing genres and eras of film that one might not immediately expect to come from VS. The ultimate objective of VSL will be to see if these types of films will find an audience, and if so, pursue and release more of them…and even if not, still serve as a means of restoring more of the weird, rare, and unusual movies you might not expect from Vinegar Syndrome.
The Eurocrime film, or poliziottesco, went through many of the same phases as other trends in Italian cinema. By virtue of necessity, stretching its boundaries or tooling with the genre was inevitable. Perhaps equally inevitably, given the sheer number of films produced, quite a few fell through the cracks over time. Three rare, distinct features late in the genre's cycle, each retaining the big names associated with it, are collected here.
IL GIORNO DEL COBRA (THE DAY OF THE COBRA)
Larry Stanziani is a bottom-of-the-barrel private eye in San Francisco, quietly scraping by to make ends meet. But in a former life, Stanziani (Franco Nero) was The Cobra, one of the most capable and deadly secret agents the world had ever seen. Called back into action in Italy after a narcotics agent is killed, Larry uncovers a syndicate that'll attempt every dirty trick in the book to finish him off. But they don't know that The Cobra always stays one step ahead of any double-cross ever invented. Directed by Italo-action legend Enzo G. Castellari (The Big Racket) as a showcase for Nero's range, this cheeky Eurocrime/gumshoe hybrid also stars Sybil Danning (Howling II: Your Sister Is a Werewolf), Mario Maranzana (Behind Convent Walls), Mickey Knox (Cemetery Man), and Romano Puppo (The Big Gundown).
directed by: Enzo G. Castellari
starring: Franco Nero, Sybil Danning, Mario Maranzana, Mickey Knox, Romano Puppo.
1980 / 95 min / 1.66:1 / English & Italian Mono
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LA BANDA DEL TRUCIDO (THE RASCAL'S GANG aka DIRTY GANG)
Naples is being crippled by crime, and now an important police leader has been assassinated. The grizzled Commissario Ghini (Luc Merenda) is tough enough to tackle the crime wave and is the only one to fill his shoes. Meanwhile, Monnezza (Tomas Milian) has his hands full, too: he's running his cheeky trattoria while also teaching a new batch of hapless schemers at his low-rent school for thieves. Balancing Milian's popular comedic chops as a loveable rogue and Merenda's hard-as-nails, stunt-driven performance, director Stelvio Massi (Arabella: Black Angel) pulls out all the stops for this wildly entertaining ride. Also starring Elio Zamuto (Violent Naples), Katia Christine (Designated Victim), and Massimo Vanni (1990: The Bronx Warriors).
directed by: Stelvio Massi
starring: Luc Merenda, Tomas Milian, Elio Zamuto, Katia Christine, Massimo Vanni
1977 / 100 min / 2.35:1 / Italian & English Mono
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IL COMMISSARIO DI FERRO (THE IRON COMMISSIONER)
Commissario Mariani (Maurizio Merli) has been taking down crooks for years, and these days the weight of it shows. He's divorced, his son thinks of him more as a friend than a father, his superiors are critical of him, and even the children of people he put away are coming after him. But he's not the Iron Commissioner for nothing, and however seasoned, he's not afraid to knock around a few hoods to get the job done. When a kidnapping occurs too close to home, Mariani doesn't hesitate to spring into action. A remarkably efficient and realistic feature from technical journeyman Stelvio Massi (Five Women for the Killer), showing plenty of tricks up his sleeve, it also stars Janet Agren (Bakterion), Ettore Mani (A.A.A. Masseuse, Good-Looking, Offers Her Services), and Chris Avram (Obscene Desire).
directed by: Stelvio Massi
starring: Maurizio Merli, Janet Agren, Chris Avram, Ettore Mani, Mariangela Giordano
1978 / 83 min / 1.85:1 / Italian Mono
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Overall rating: 4.8142858 / 5 from 70 reviews.
This limited edition 3-Disc Blu-ray set features a collection of rare Italian crime films, praised for their quality and entertainment value. Each film is newly scanned and restored in 2K from its original negative, with newly translated English subtitles and reversible sleeve artwork. Special features include commentary tracks and interviews with film historians and cast/crew.
Review topics: ["packaging","effort","set","buy","film","collection","release","movie","restoration","title","features","genre","commentary","gang","picture","start","dive","selection","narrative"].
"It's an ok set, but it's clear why the movies were packed together. They are all minor efforts in the poliziotteschi genre, even though they are entertaining. The weakest one is Il commissario di ferro, also because of its faulty image quality in many sequences. The source has some evident problems. The other two movies are ok in this respect. Overall an honest collection, recommended if you enjoy the genre."
"A terrific package of films from one of my favorite genres. Solid restorations and luxurious packaging make this an easy purchase for fans. The only thing more exciting than the titles in this set is the text: ‘Vol. 1. ’ Can’t wait for more of these!"
"Three of the finest Whisky Spokesmen show us how to live the Whisky lifestyle while dodging bullets, raising kids and impressing the ladies. You can’t go wrong with Franco Nero, Tomas Milian or Maurizio Merli in the lead. All three pictures in this first Eurocrime Rarities set are winners. I eagerly look forward to the next volume!"
"I already owned two out three films from this collection, but this is just the thing that i've hoping for from Vinegar to release. A nice package, i especially appreciate that there's commentary tracks in an each film by Eugenio Ercolani and other Italian genre film experts. Hopefully there's more volumes to come in the future."
"a nice little collection of euro polizotti films! The Franco Nero film was a biz disappointing! Maybr we expected far too much here! Fulci’s Contraband is way better But all in all a great collection"
"I've been a fan of Italian police films for years since buying some of the great boxed sets released by another company awhile back. Tomas Milian figured prominently in one of those sets so the missing film from the series was a welcome add to my collection. The humor in some of these films don't really work, but the crime stories and action certainly do. The great Franco Nero stars in a private eye/spy film that seems to owe more to Shaft (he gets his own theme song) than to Bogart. A great mix and a decent intro to newcomers to Italian police thrillers. Great commentaries and two of the three have English dubs."
"Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the ’70s / “Eurocrime Rarities Vol. 1” from Vinegar Syndrome is a fantastic deep dive for anyone obsessed with grimy Italian crime cinema. The set feels lovingly curated, packed with obscure films that have all the wild car chases, cynical antiheroes, and chaotic energy that make the genre so addictive. Even when some of the movies get rough around the edges, that’s honestly part of the charm, and the restorations and extras make it clear how much passion went into preserving these forgotten titles."
"Absolutely awesome set and such a good time. Not a bad film in the bunch!"
"These Eurocrime titles are wonderful additions to my collection and the VS catalogue. Bring on Vol. 2!"
"Eurocrime Rarities: Volume 1 is a reminder of just how deep and rewarding the Eurocrime rabbit hole can be. Rather than collecting the genre’s most famous titles, this set shines a light on lesser-known films that still deliver everything fans crave: hard-bitten detectives, ruthless gangsters, explosive action, and enough moral ambiguity to fill a police precinct. The films vary in style and quality, but that is part of the appeal. Each one offers a slightly different take on the crime cinema boom that swept through Europe in the 1970s, revealing just how creative and unpredictable the genre could be. Vinegar Syndrome has put together a collection that feels less like a history lesson and more like a series of hidden discoveries, making it an essential set for anyone who appreciates tough, stylish crime films."
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