Kennwort - Salamander (1981) Online

How did it go so wrong? How can a film with such an impressive cast (Franco Nero, Christopher Lee, Eli Wallach, Sybil Danning, Claudia Cardinale, Martin Balsam, Paul Smith - the torturer in "Midnight Express" - as, you guessed it, a torturer, etc.) and such colorful location filming around Italy (Rome, Milan, Venice, etc.) be such a bore? Probably because the story is slow-moving and unengaging, and has no real climax. Another obstacle for the viewer is the difficulty to buy people like Lee and Balsam as Italians. Nero is always likable, and Danning is stunning (even if she's in completely "unrevealing" mode here), but these two are barely enough to keep you focused on what was excellently described by another reviewer as "a political thriller without thrills". (*1/2)

THE SALAMANDER is one of those films with a gob-smacking cast and wealth of talent both in front of and behind the scenes. It's based on a classic thriller novel by Morris West and adapted by TWILIGHT ZONE creator Rod Serling; it's directed by an experienced film editor, Peter Zinner, who ensures that his editing here is crisp and perfect, and it has both British and American backing, although it's an Italian film, shot in Italy with an Italian supporting cast. But what of the main cast! Remember those glory days of disaster films in the '70s, where an all-star cast was a guarantee of big audiences? Where the film poster could hardly manage to fit all those Hollywood names in? Well, that's what we have here, although THE SALAMANDER eventually succumbs to the same fate as those other movies: there are so many players and familiar faces that only a few of them get a substantial role and the rest are just window dressing.

Heading the cast is Franco Nero, playing a crusading investigator. His appearance immediately puts this film in line with the popular '70s polizia, or crime, flicks that packed out Italian cinemas in that decade. There's a requisite number of decently-done car chases and short action sequences, but this isn't really an action film, it's more of a mystery. It's the static nature of the plot that works against it and stops it from being fully entertaining. Essentially, the film has Nero questioning one character after another in a series of long-winded interviews, only to bring everyone together at the climax to reveal the villain(s). It's like something out of an Agatha Christie novel, and despite efforts from the film-makers to throw in MARATHON MAN-style torture scenes and assassins bumping off key players, it's a completely linear movie. Saying that I still enjoyed it, thanks to the great camera-work and performances.

Supporting the ever-great Nero is Martin Balsam, here teaming up with the star again after CONFESSIONS OF A POLICE CAPTAIN. These two actors make for a great double act and they shine whenever they're on screen together – it just seems so natural. Glamour is brought to the proceedings by Claudia Cardinale and Anita Strindberg, although these two accomplished actresses barely get a look in – the main glamour girl is Sybil Danning, playing Nero's love interest. For once Danning doesn't go nude for the role, which ends up being one of her best in terms of acting. The main cast heavyweight is Anthony Quinn, and he acts everyone off the screen in a great role. Elsewhere we get villains essayed by Christopher Lee – who can do this kind of thing in his sleep – and Eli Wallach, who still seems too likable to be believable in his role. There are cameos for Paul Smith, typecast as a torturer, and Cleavon Little, who shows up to fire off a machine gun and then goes again! Italian regulars like John Steiner and Renzo Palmer help flesh out minor parts. THE SALAMANDER is far from great, but if you like the look of the cast and you enjoy beautiful scenery, you'll have a ball like I did.

A political thriller involving secret plans to re-create a fascist government in Italy. This film is chocked full of stars like Christopher Lee, Anthony Quinn, Eli Wallach and the whole parade is led by Franco Nero who does a top notch job as high ranking officer investigating the murders involved in trying to obtain these documents.

They had some cash to spend on this film as you can see how elaborately furnished the interior shots are and most everything else.

The film mostly has Nero obtaining facts from interview to interview and there is a few chase scenes but its not a tense thriller just really interesting. The actors were amazing. If you get a chance give it a watch.

The ingredients are here for a passable political-thriller but the approach used to tell the story is numbingly routine. Investigator Franco Nero pursues his case simply through a series of interviews, thus allowing the movie to present its roster of marquee-names -- Christopher Lee, Eli Wallach, Claudia Cardinale, etc. -- in a succession of talky, static scenes that lack interest and vitality. (Though these interviews provide an opportunity to show off a series of impressively furnished and decorated rooms.) And then, when it comes time for Nero to present his solution to the case, he does so by showing to a group of people a movie which simply re-caps information gleaned from his interviews!

Attempts to liven up the proceedings with spurts of action merely serve to emphasize the overall dullness of the movie. For example, when Nero falls into the clutches of a villain known as "the Surgeon" who is determined to torture information from him, we only see Nero -- stripped to a jockstrap and strapped to a chair -- being given an injection with a hypodermic needle. Surely this is one of the most boring forms of torture ever shown on the screen.

Peter Zinner won an Oscar for editing THE DEER HUNTER (1978); for his only directorial effort, he chose this adaptation of the Morris West best-seller which was shown on local TV back in the day (actually, that is how I first heard of it). He did manage to assemble an impressive all-star cast: Franco Nero plays the hero carabiniere in a throwback to some of the political thrillers he had made in his native country – such as DAY OF THE OWL (1968), in which he co-starred with Claudia Cardinale, and CONFESSIONS OF A POLICE CAPTAIN (1971), also featuring Martin Balsam; both actors also appear here, the latter as Nero's closest collaborator who eventually falls in the line of duty. Anthony Quinn is the titular figure (a wealthy industrialist and ex-legendary WWII partisan), Sybil Danning the mistress of a dead army officer (whose apparent suicide sets events in motion) but also serving as Nero's unconvincing love interest, Eli Wallach the General leading a proposed coup d'etat, Christopher Lee as Nero's superior (actually a prince[!] who is unsurprisingly inextricably related with the Government takeover plot – interestingly, his on-screen wife was played by Lee's own real-life spouse in an infrequent appearance), Cleavon Little as a Black American ex-colleague of Nero's (whom the latter calls upon when he is in a fix) and Paul Smith (as a sadistic "surgeon"). There are, however, also a number of Euro-Cult regulars: John Steiner in the role of Wallach's aide as well as lover of his neglected wife Cardinale, Renzo Palmer, Marino Mase' – unenviably playing a corpse! – and Nello Pazzafini. While tolerable as entertainment (though there is less action than I had anticipated) and featuring a decent score by the great Ennio Morricone, the film is ultimately too superficial and uneven to make a ripple in the circles it professes to denounce; nevertheless, the clever climax is surprisingly (but effectively) handled in the style of the "Thin Man" movies! Besides, one particular scene nearly turns this into a camp classic i.e. when the hero, caught and about to be tortured by Smith, attacks the latter clad only in a harness along his waist (which gives unwarranted prominence to Nero's groin while leaving his buttocks completely exposed!) but ends up slammed against the wall hanging upside-down instead!!

A rightist plot to stage a coup d'etat against the Italian government is foiled by a Captain in the Carabinieri. Led by industrialists, high ranking government and military officials, some of whom hold noble titles, the plotters control vital sectors of the state that they seemed unstoppable but for the dogged determination of a middle ranking police officer (Franco Nero) and a detective (Martin Balsam).

The plot and the events surrounding it are too complicated to be condensed in an average length movie and so it was a bit confusing. Nevertheless, it manages to convey the plausibility of a right wing coup against the Italian government. After all, many communists and socialists were seated in parliament during this period and they controlled the countryside municipalities through their mayors. Of course, the captains of industries, the nobility, their allies in the military elite and government bureaucracy, did not like that. My appreciation of the movie heightened when serendipitously, I chanced upon a copy of the Morris L. West novel of the same title.

It is interesting to note that Italians still use noble titles like "principe" and "principessa." But these are not necessarily, the offspring of kings but may be compared to the English earls. Remember that for much of the medieval period, Italy was divided into city states some of which were nominally under the Holy Roman Emperor who did not brook the presence of kings except for his own relatives like the King of Sicily. There is also the unique Italian noble title of "Falconeri," who must have been the falconer of a Grand Duke. Perhaps we can compare him to a Hapsburg baron.

Italians are great designers of uniforms (among other things such as cars) and it shows in this movie. The Captain dons at least two different uniforms in various scenes and his formal or gala dress was interestingly cool. That golden flame insignia on his officer's cap caught my eye.

This is the first movie I saw in a theater;I was 4 or 5.I liked it enormously,I found Franco Nero very cool and very handsome.The snatched nails shocked me;I was impressed with the tragic atmosphere and I found the movie extremely violent.Maybe,indeed,it was.The bearded fat man looked evil and was certainly scary.Years later,when I was now 11,I saw The Salamander on a B/W TV set.I liked it that time,too.

I guess it may be considered the first straightforward thriller I ever saw; later,I maintained this taste--for Italo-crime things,for thrillers with a twist,and,on a different artistic level,for action dramas (like the Mickey Rourke masterpiece A Prayer for the Dying ,like Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome,like Craig Lahiff's Heaven's Burning,like Hana-bi ,like J. Lee Thompson's The White Buffalo ...).

I see I am the only one to comment favorably on The Salamander;I also see that the director Peter Zinner did not make another film.Well,kudos for this one!

When I have seen The Salamander,I did not know about Eli Wallach,John Steiner,Christopher Lee and Sybil Danning,therefore I can not tell if they were good or not in this film.

it was one of favorite films of my childhood. today, it is only a promise. large, noble, interesting but prisoner of good intentions. the impressive torture scene, Franco Nero as Prince Charming, presence of Claudia Cardinale are little sparkles of a work without axis. sure, a thriller not must be a masterpiece but in this case it is a lost seed of fantastic tree. because story is fragile and almost boring. because central impression is to be at a great lunch without forks and knifes. and the script may be only improvisation . sure, it may be a cruel verdict. but after years, only gloomy memories about a nice film saves this movie.is it enough ? may be. in a little measure.

What a waste of superior acting talent! Anthony Quinn Claudia Cardinale Franco Nero Christopher Lee Martin Balsam Eli Wallach How could you go wrong? The story isn't even that bad, I blame the director. Remind me not to watch anything else directed by Peter Zinner. Oh wait, it seems this is the only film he ever directed. Thank G_d!

one of films of my childhood. maybe, the most fascinating, because all was new, strange, bizarre, cruel out of words and... confuse. after decades, the perspective was different. but not profound different. because , after its end, the questions are about a bizarre,silly ,full of clichés, superficial, confuse film, guided by good intentions, with an impressive cast, a not so bad story , excellent premises but who remains only one of commercial films from the many others , predictable, with few good scenes, but nothing more. and this seems be its only sin.

I enjoy all there horror films etc. in his early films like Sherlock Holmes and the deadly necklace and Dracula 1958 he was a good handsome man when he was younger. and his wife gave birth to a lovely daughter now he is grown up and married,I have bought several

books as well as from his actor friends, When actors done a Dracula documentary on Dracula the impaler i went to that castle in the summer of 1974, the castle was very large and had nice items inside being on top of the mountains it stood very proud, but i couldn't see any other building around there.It felt eerie when i was there my parents and my younger brother heard wolves i do not know where they were and how many live at the mountains, at night the air was cool but during the daytime it was too hot.by the tour operator we had camera's but allowed to use them inside.the salamander was film was good i saw his wife but she said no script in the film.