The Sicilian Cross (1976, Roger Moore, Stacy Keach, Ivo Garrani, Fausto Tozzi) – Classic Movie Review 10,232

Directors Maurizio Lucidi and Guglielmo [William] Garroni’s basic 1976 Italian gangster film The Sicilian Cross [Gli Esecutori] [Street People] [The Executors] stars Roger Moore as Ulysses [Ulisse], an Italian-American lawyer searching for a stolen heroin consignment hidden in a jewelled cross. Stacy Keach is his most recognisable co-star as Charlie Hanson, in a cast largely made up of The Godfather background players.

The Sicilian Cross [Gli Esecutori] is a violent, unpersuasive Italian production with a muddled script and clumsy direction, but there is the odd exciting car chase and the occasional effective burst of action.

Moore is always good company, but, without the smooth personas of Bond or The Saint to fall back on, he seems uncomfortable in a character role as a hotshot Anglo-Sicilian lawyer.

Also in the cast are Ivo Garrani, Fausto Tozzi, Ettore Manni, Ennio Balbo, Loretta Persichetti, Pietro Martellanza [Peter Martell], Luigi Casellato, Rosemarie Lindt and Romano Puppo.

It was released by American International Pictures in 1976 in the US, dubbed, as Street People, and by Hemdale Film Distribution in 1977 in the UK, dubbed, as The Sicilian Cross.

The Sicilian Cross [Gli Esecutori] [Street People] [The Executors] runs 101 minutes, is made by Aetos Produzioni Cinematografiche, is released by Surf Film (1976) (Italy), American International Pictures (1976) (US) (dubbed) (as Street People) and Hemdale Film Distribution (1977) (UK) (dubbed), is written by Roberto Leoni (story) (screenplay), Franco Bucceri (story) (screenplay), Maurizio Lucidi (story) (screenplay), Nicola Badalucco (screenplay), Randal Kleiser and Ernest Tidyman (dialogue), is shot by Aiace Parolin, is produced by Samuel Z Arkoff (executive producer), Guglielmo Garroni [William Garroni] (executive producer), Manolo Bolognini and Luigi Borghese, is scored by Luis Enrîquez Bacalov and is designed by Gastone Carsetti.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,232

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