Maurizio Merli Movies
The film work of actor Maurizio Merli is best known in his native Italy. Internationally, his best-known film is The Leopard (1963). Occasionally Merli appeared in international productions such as Covert Action (1980) and Priest of Love (1981). ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Adapted from Umberto Eco's best-selling novel, director Jean-Jacques Annaud's The Name of the Rose is a 14th century murder-mystery thriller starring Sean Connery as a Sherlock Holmes-esque Franciscan monk called William of Baskerville. When a murder occurs at a secluded Benedictine Abbey, William is called in to investigate. As he and his apprentice, Adson von Melk (Christian Slater), delve deeper and deeper into the case, more dead bodies begin to turn up. Eventually, Bernardo Gui, an inquisitor played by F. Murray Abraham gets involved, but he may not have the best intentions. Sean Connery's performance earned him the award for Best Actor at the 1988 British Academy Awards. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, (more)
- 1981
- R
The later years of the life of author D.H. Lawrence are dramatized in this screen biography. Following the controversial reception of his novel The Rainbow, David Herbert Lawrence (Ian McKellen) and his wife Frieda (Janet Suzman) leave England for the U.S., where they hope that Lawrence's bold themes will be received in a more tolerant climate. Such is not the case, and the Lawrences travel first to Mexico, and then to Italy while David attempts to complete and then publish his best known (and most controversial) work, Lady Chatterley's Lover. However, as the furor over the book taxes David's well being, tuberculosis saps his physical health. The supporting cast includes John Gielgud as censorship crusader Herbert G. Muskett and Ava Gardner as Mabel Dodge Luhan. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ian McKellen, Janet Suzman, (more)
- 1978
- R
In this espionage drama, set in Greece, a former CIA agent (David Janssen) is being stalked by his former employers, led by Arthur Kennedy,after he writes a book about his life. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Janssen, Corinne Clery, (more)
Despite coming along fairly late in the cycle, this spaghetti western is one of the genre's best. Maurizio Merli plays Blade, a bounty hunter who captures outlaw Burt Craven (Donald O'Brien) by throwing his hatchet and chopping off Craven's hand. In the nearby town of Suttonstead, Blade wins a poker game against Voller (Caligula's John Steiner), and -- because he can't get a reward for Craven -- frees his captive. Later, Voller ambushes Blade in the wilderness, burying him up to his neck and sewing his eyelids open so his eyes will be burnt out by the sun. Craven discovers Blade and repays his freedom by saving the now-blinded gunman, who learns to shoot by sound rather than sight. The conclusion has Blade getting his revenge in a dark silver mine, where he has the advantage against Voller and his men. Director Sergio Martino is best known for stylish thrillers and uses his considerable visual style to give this violent, grandiose film an almost mythical resonance. Fans of gritty realism in spaghetti westerns may not relate to Martino's flamboyant style, but most Euro-devotees will find it immensely appealing. Martine Brochard, Rik Battaglia, and Philippe Leroy co-star. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- 1976
- R
Police Commissioner Tanzi (Marizio Merli) is sick and tired of criminals getting coddled by the Italian justice system and proceeds to do something about it. His co-workers and superior try to rein him in, but there's no stopping him; criminals are made to pay for their crimes by this one-man vigilante force. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Maurizio Merli, Tomas Milian, (more)
- 1975
Marino Girolami directed this violent crime film under the pseudonym "Franco Martinelli." The story concerns a special undercover squad attached to the Rome police force and commanded by Inspector Betti (Maurizio Merli). Through various episodic encounters, including the tragic shooting of Betti's partner, who is later attacked and savagely beaten in his wheelchair, a portrait emerges of a city immersed in violence, and to which violence is the only answer. Police brutality is rampant in this film, and is presented as reasonable if not encouraged. When mobsters break into the home of the Police Chief (Richard Conte) and rape his young daughter (Daniela Giordano) in front of him, the retaliation from Betti's squad is swift and brutal, involving brass knuckles and baseball bats. Liberal viewers will not care for this film, which co-stars Silvano Tranquilli and John Steiner, but fans of violent Italian crime should seek it out. Girolami made the similar Roma, l'Altra Faccia della Violenza the following year. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi
- 1974
Italian director Tonino Ricci helmed this 1974 snowbound adventure film about a young boy in danger and the courageous wolf who comes to his rescue. Originally called Zanna Bianca Alla Riscossa and later retitled White Fang to the Rescue, the film is the sequel to Lucio Fulci's Zanna Bianca, a 1972 adaptation Jack London's classic novel White Fang. Maurizio Merli stars along with Henry Silva and Gisella Hahn. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
- Starring:
- Henry Silva, Maurizio Merli, (more)
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