Mario Pilar Movies
- 1984
An unsuspecting novelist is the target of international extortionists in this well-acted suspense story directed by Claude Pinoteau. Lino Ventura stars as Bastien Grimaldy, a man driven to heightened anxiety as the plot against him begins to take effect. Bastien's personal relationships give him enough cause for anxiety -- between his new lover Laura (Elisabeth Bourgine) and a feisty mother (Lina Volonghi), life provides its own insecurities. When he goes to the police with his problems, Bastien is assigned an off-beat inspector to protect him (Roger Planchon) but is still faced with skepticism about his dilemma. In the end, Bastien goes to Berlin, as this conventional storyline moves towards the closing credits. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lino Ventura, Lea Massari, (more)
- 1974
In Jury of One, French filmmaker Andre Cayatte once more probes into the intricacies of the Gallic justice system. Sophia Loren plays the widow of a man reputed to be a gangster. When Loren's son Michel Albertini is accused of murder, his father's reputation practically assures a guilty verdict. Desperately, Loren kidnaps Gisel Casadessus, the wife of prosecuting judge Jean Gabin. In order to save Gisel's life, Gabin acquits Albertini, only to discover that his wife, a diabetic, has died after refusing to take insulin. It is up to the conscience-stricken Loren to mete out final justice against herself. Jury of One was also distributed to English-speaking countries under the title The Verdict. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jean Gabin, Sophia Loren, (more)
- 1973
The action comedy Piedone Lo Sbirro concerns a police officer who goes to great and unusual lengths to put some nasty drug dealers behind bars. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
This crime action movie is based on Peter Maas' best-selling book The Valachi Papers. That book, in turn, is based on prison conversations and the actual U.S. Senate testimony of Joseph Valachi, a high-ranking figure in the Mafia. The book, which tells precisely who did what to whom, when and why, electrified the nation. This film had to be made in Italy, because attempts to shoot in the U.S. were stymied by mob-arranged "accidents" and protests. The story is told in flashback as Valachi (Charles Bronson) tells a Federal agent about his activities from 1929 to 1961, when he worked for the Capo of Capos, Vito Genovese (Lino Ventura). Though his tale necessarily takes place in a number of episodes, it never fails to have lots of drama and action. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charles Bronson, Lino Ventura, (more)
- 1962
In this romantic drama, an engineering student is quite upset to learn that his girlfriend has been seeing an older man on the side. In shock, he begins aimlessly walking through the Parisian streets. Along the way he meets a young nightclub stripper who works in a dive. Though she is but a teenager, the engineer falls for her. Unfortunately, when his girlfriend hears about the affair, she tries to break it up. She fails and must then satisfy herself with the older man. The other two remain crazy about each other. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
