Joe Mascolo Movies

Burt Reynolds stars as the bitter bodyguard and degenerate gambler Mex in this uneven action film. He wakes up hungover, vowing to rekindle his dream of leaving Las Vegas for good if he can just raise enough money. Mex divides his time working for the low-key millionaire Cyrus Kinnick (Peter MacNicol) at the casino and moonlighting as a paid enforcer. When Mex's pretty neighbor Holly (Karen Young) is attacked by a quartet of perverted thugs, Mex goes after gang leader Danny DeMarco (Neill Barry) and company. The feature was continually plagued by production problems, with three uncredited directors employed in addition to R.M. Richards. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Alex Karras stars as junior football league coach "Moose" Novak in this cautionary tale about living life vicariously through the accomplishments of others. The father (Joseph Mascolo) of 12-year-old football player Benny Singleton (Brandon Cruz) has dreams of his son becoming a star quarterback in the pros. But Benny is merely going through the motions on the field; he would much rather pursue a career as a photographer. It is up to Moose to resolve the conflict between Benny and his dad in a way that will ultimately satisfy them both. ~ All Movie Guide

When touring Italian opera star Giorgio Fini (Luciano Pavarotti in his screen debut) mysteriously loses his voice before a performance in Boston, he goes to see throat specialist Dr. Pamela Taylor (Kathryn Harrold), and the two fall madly in love. This film features a number of songs, including "If We Were in Love" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

This action film follows the childhood alliances of "Lucky" Luciano, Meyer Lansky, and "Bugsy" Siegel and their reign as the kings of the 1920s crime scene. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide

While defending pro football player Davy Woodhull (Howard McGillin) on a robbery-murder charge, Beth (Gretchen Corbett) is harrassed by an unknown psycho. Jim (James Garner) must not only protect Beth, but also locate Doreen Carpenter (Sondra Blake), the only person who is able to clear Woodhull. Alas, Doreen is killed just before testifying in court--the first of several clues leading to the inexorable conclusion that Beth's tormentor is much closer to her than she thinks! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While Kojak (Telly Savalas) is following up several false leads in the bombing of a Manhattan restaurant, one of his detectives, Jeff Braddock (Joseph Mascolo), would seem to have inside information on the crime. Unfortunately, Braddock is unable to tell Kojak or anyone else what he knows. It seems that among those killed in the bombing was his mistress Gretchen Hodges (Judith Chapman)--and there is a strong likelihood that Braddock's own wife Molly (Fionnuala Flanagan), who suffers from mental illness, was responsible for the tragedy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this first episode of Baretta, gonzo undercover cop Tony Baretta sets up a phony numbers bank to trap prominent mobster Frank Cassell (Joseph Mascolo). In his off hours, Baretta romantically pursues the lovely Sharon Fowler (Madlyn Rhue), whom he wants to marry despite her protests that living together is the way to go. Tragically, their relationship is literally terminated when Sharon is killed by Cassell's hired thugs. Throwing "police procedure" in the wastebasket, the grieving Baretta vows to take his own personal revenge against Cassell. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Sam Greenlee's cult favorite novel of political unrest was brought to the screen in this drama, which also earned a small but loyal following. A congressman hoping to attract African-American voters during an election year decides to make political hay by pointing out that the Central Intelligence Agency has no black agents. Bowing to subsequent public pressure, the CIA admits a number of black applicants to their training program, but they purposefully make the process difficult and unpleasant enough to winnow out nearly all the African-American students. Dan Freeman (Lawrence Cook), a strong, intelligent but soft-spoken man, somehow makes it through the gauntlet to become the black CIA agent; however, rather than being given important field assignments, Freeman is put in charge of the agency's copying machines and gives tours of their facilities to give the offices a progressive front for visitors. After a few years, Freeman leaves the agency to move back to his hometown of Chicago and do work with the community...at least that's what he tells his superiors. In fact, Freeman has used his time at the CIA collecting information on how to launch a political revolution, and not long after he arrives in the Windy City, he begins recruiting an army of leftist radicals and black nationalists fed up with the system. With their help, Freeman launches the first stage of an armed revolt with the stated goal of bringing the white-dominated power structure to its knees. The Spook Who Sat by the Door was a rare feature directorial assignment for Ivan Dixon, best known as an actor (he played Sgt. "Kinch" Kinchloe on Hogan's Heroes), Dixon has an extensive resume of directorial credits, but primarily in episodic television. Spook is his second theatrical release. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This is the hurriedly produced sequel to Gordon Parks' trend-setting hit Shaft. Richard Roundtree is on hand once again, portraying "the cat who's a bad mutha." In this installment, Shaft investigates the murder of a well-respected Harlem figure and funeral-home director, Cal Asby (Robert Kya-Hill), who is blown to smithereens after stashing money in a coffin. Cal's funeral is attended by Bumpy Jonas (Moses Gunn), the local Harlem boss. Since Bumpy is attending Cal's funeral, Shaft suspects some dirty dealings between Bumpy and Cal's business partner Kelly (Wally Taylor). After the funeral, Shaft returns home to find that his place has been ransacked. Kelly arrives to inform him that he is taking over Cal's funeral-home business. When Kelly leaves, Captain Bollin (Julius Harris) makes an appearance and takes Shaft downtown for questioning about Cal's murder. Bollin reveals that Cal and Kelly were in cahoots -- running a numbers racket and involved with Gus Mascola (Joseph Mascolo), another local gangster. Bollin agrees to let Shaft go on the provision that he will inform him of any leads. Now Shaft must track down the real killer to get his Harlem neighbors off the hook. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide