Peter Martell Movies
- 1979
While on a mission to Russia, American agents swipe some rare jewels and shuttle a woman back to the U.S. ~ John Bush, Rovi
- 1977
Desert thieves are broken up by one member who targets the leader of the gang in order to get his share of the loot. ~ Rovi
- 1969
The Unholy Four was originally titled Ciak Mull, L'Uomo Della Vendetta. It's one of those spaghetti westerns in which the heroes and heavies are virtually indistinguishable. Though the outlaw leader (played by George Eastman credited by his birth name Luigi Montefiore) is evil incarnate, he isn't much worse than the four mercenaries hunting him down. Stalwart John Ford-regular Woody Strode is given plenty of screen time, and he makes the most of it. Director Enzo Barboni was billed as "E. B. Clucher" in the American prints. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1968
This gripping crime thriller from director Carlo Lizzani was based on a true story. A daring gang of bandits pull off a series of risky heists in Milan, murdering several innocent bystanders in the film's exciting opening getaway scene. Lizzani then moves the story backwards in time, painting a portrait of Milan as a seething hotbed of vice. Gian Maria Volonte gives an increasingly flamboyant performance as the gang's egomaniacal leader, whose Nazi-like belief in his own superiority proves to be the flaw which foils his plans. Tomas Milian, in a rare nonvillainous turn, shines as the dedicated young police inspector who brings Volonte down, and gun moll Carla Gravina has an amusing (if stereotypical) scene in which Volonte teaches her to drive. The thrilling car chase is among the best in the Italian crime genre, and even Riz Ortolani's typically annoying musical score does not detract from the film's appeal. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Gian Maria Volontè, Don Backy, (more)
- 1968
In this spaghetti western, two adventurous G-men masquerade as arms smugglers and sneak into a gang. When one of them returns home, he finds his parents have been murdered and his sister brutally raped. Now he rides out for revenge and bloody mayhem ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1968
Right-wing U.S. Treasury Department agents try to stop the delivery of opium from China in this uneven, implausible story. Agent Kelly (Dana Andrews) declares that all opium plants are grown in China and that this drug supply is "a time bomb from Peking to destroy the moral fiber of our nation." Mike Rand (Peter Martell) is a young gun in the department who gleefully declares himself "judge, jury and executioner" as he pumps a round of bullets into the heart of an unarmed man. The agents trail the drug smugglers from Beirut to Istanbul and back. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi
- Starring:
- Dana Andrews, Peter Martell, (more)
- 1968
Over five hundred European westerns were made between 1963 and 1977, and about half of them used this plot: a man's family is slaughtered by outlaws, so he teaches himself to shoot and goes after them. This particular entry was directed by Giuseppe Vari under the name "Joseph Warren." Mike Marshall is the vengeful gunslinger, chasing the bandits who murdered his mother and sister. Robert Hundar and Peter Martell co-starred in this unimpressive variant on a theme which had already been done to death. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Marshall, Robert Hundar, (more)
- 1965
Also known as Snow Devils and Devil Men From Space, this Italian melodrama is a muddled mixture of two popular film genres. Part of the story is given over to a search for the destroyers of a Himalyan weather station. When the search party reaches their destination, they are captured by what seems to be a tribe of abominable snowmen. We soon learn that the blue-tinted beasties are actually the vanguard of an invading army of extraterrestrials. Heading the cast of Snow Demons are Jack Stuart (also known as Giacomo Rossi Stuart) and Amber Collins (aka Ombretta Coli); the director was Anthony Dawson (aka Antonio Margheriti; do we detect a pattern here?) The film was originally released as I Diavolo della Spazzio. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- 1965
Scientists discover that a maverick asteroid is hurtling towards Earth and if they cannot stop it, it will destroy our planet in this special-effects laden Italian sci-fi thriller that is also known as Planet on the Prowl. Their task isn't easy, for as the little planet draws near it upsets the Earth's gravity and causes all kinds of natural disasters. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- 1965
This film has two segments exploring relationships subjected to sudden trauma. In the first, "Violence," a young wife is gang-raped while her husband is forced to watch. Afterwards, neither one even acknowledges what happened. In "Love," a wife is hospitalized after attempting suicide, and her husband flirts innocently with a pretty young nurse. When the wife dies, the husband is consumed with guilt over his perceived unfaithfulness. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi
