Mr Ricco *** (1975, Dean Martin, Eugene Roche, Thalmus Rasulala, Denise Nicholas, Cindy Williams, Geraldine Brooks, Frank Puglia) – Classic Movie Review 6720

Paul Bogart’s 1975 MGM crime thriller Mr Ricco sees the ever likeable Dean Martin in his final star role as Mr Joe Ricco, a criminal attorney in San Francisco up to his neck in cases. 

Director Paul Bogart’s 1975 MGM crime thriller Mr Ricco is a wayward but more than passable minor entertainment, with the ever likeable Dean Martin strolling through his part as Mr Joe Ricco, a criminal attorney in San Francisco up to his neck in cases, particularly one about racist murders, in which a black militant is accused.

If Martin seems half asleep – though to be fair that is his style – luckily others are wide awake. Director Bogart pulls off some effective scenes and energises the film, the plot thickens tastily in Robert Hoban’s screenplay (based on a story by Ed Harvey and Francis Kiernan), and cinematographer Frank Stanley’s location filming is exciting.

It co-stars Eugene Roche as Ricco’s closest friend George Cronyn, the detective in charge of the case, and Thalmus Rasulala as San Francisco black militant Frankie Steele.

Also in the cast are Denise Nicholas, Cindy Williams, Geraldine Brooks, Frank Puglia (in his final movie), Philip Michael Thomas, George Tyne, Robert Sampson, Michael Gregory, Joseph Hacker, Ella Edwards, Rose Gregorio, Nicky Blair, Nora Marlowe, John Quade, Jay Fletcher, Jason Wingreen, Daniel Keough, H B Barnum III, Oliver Givens, A G Vitanza, Rich Richards, Dennie Lee Smith, David Buchanan, Tony Brubaker and Mickey Caruso.

Mr Ricco is directed by Paul Bogart, runs 99 minutes, is made by MGM, is released by United Artists (US/ Canada) and Cinema International Corporation (international), is written by Robert Hoban (screenplay), Ed Harvey (story), Francis Kiernan (story), shot in Metrocolor by Frank Stanley, produced by Douglas Netter, scored by Chico Hamilton and designed by Herman A Blumethal.

Dean Martin’s contract to appear at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas included a commitment to star in a film for MGM. It premiered in Las Vegas on 28 January 1975, the day before it was released on 29 January 1975 (New York City).

Dean Martin stars in his last leading film role, though he later appeared in The Cannonball Run and Cannonball Run II.

Frank Puglia (1892–1975).

Frank Puglia, who plays Uncle Enzo in his final movie, ended up with 240 credits, in a career spanning 1921 to 1975. He made his debut in D W Griffith’s Orphans of the Storm (1921).

Paul Bogart, who died on 15 April 2012, aged 92, also made Marlowe, Skin Game, Class of ’44  and Torch Song Trilogy.

The cast are Dean Martin as Joe Ricco, Eugene Roche as George Cronyn, Thalmus Rasulala as Frankie Steele, Denise Nicholas as Irene Mapes, Cindy Williams as Jamison, Geraldine Brooks as Katherine, Philip Michael Thomas as Purvis Mapes, George Tyne as Lt. Barrett, Frank Puglia, Robert Sampson, Michael Gregory, Joseph Hacker, Ella Edwards, Rose Gregorio, Nicky Blair, Nora Marlowe, John Quade, Jay Fletcher, Jason Wingreen, Daniel Keough, H B Barnum III, Oliver Givens, A G Vitanza, Rich Richards, Dennie Lee Smith, David Buchanan, Tony Brubaker and Mickey Caruso.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6720

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Dino Paul Crocetti, aka Dean Martin.