	Squadra Volante (1974) (aka Emergency Squad) Dir. Stelvio Massi Starring Tomas Milian, Gastone Moschin, Ray Lovelock, Stefania Casini A gang of criminals led by the Marsigliese (Gastone Moschin of Milano Calibre 9 fame) poses as a film crew to execute a daring daytime robbery. They get away with the money but leave a dead policeman behind them. Interpol agent Ravelli (Tomas Milian), whose wife was killed by a stray bullet from a bank robber five years earlier, volunteers to take on the case. When it turns out that the bullet that killed the policeman was fired from the same gun that killed his wife, Ravelli wants more than justice, he wants revenge. Squadra Volante is the first of several poliziotteschi directed by Stelvio Massi’s and it is a very good one. Well paced and engaging with a good script from the director and Dardano Sacchetti. Not as action filled as many of Lenzi’s genre outings but there is nevertheless enough gunplay and car chases to keep even the most attention deficient viewers interested.

Squadra Volante (1974) (aka Emergency Squad)

Dir. Stelvio Massi

Starring Tomas Milian, Gastone Moschin, Ray Lovelock, Stefania Casini

A gang of criminals led by the Marsigliese (Gastone Moschin of Milano Calibre 9 fame) poses as a film crew to execute a daring daytime robbery. They get away with the money but leave a dead policeman behind them. Interpol agent Ravelli (Tomas Milian), whose wife was killed by a stray bullet from a bank robber five years earlier, volunteers to take on the case. When it turns out that the bullet that killed the policeman was fired from the same gun that killed his wife, Ravelli wants more than justice, he wants revenge.
Squadra Volante is the first of several poliziotteschi directed by Stelvio Massi’s and it is a very good one. Well paced and engaging with a good script from the director and Dardano Sacchetti. Not as action filled as many of Lenzi’s genre outings but there is nevertheless enough gunplay and car chases to keep even the most attention deficient viewers interested.

The film benefits from the great cast. Milian is great in a role that is a bit more serious than we’re used to seeing him in. He’s about as popular with his superiors as Nico Giraldi (“A proud policeman does not wander about with long hair, dressed like some hippie at a love-in, ignoring all forms of discipline” is one piece of choice dialogue) but anybody expecting Nico Giraldi like comedy antics will be sorely disappointed.

	Gastone Moschin has commanding presence and Ray Lovelock is good in the small but important role of the gang’s driver, Rino “The Philosopher”. Add to this a great score by Stelvio Cipriani and you’ve got a poliziescoi well worth seeking out. Peter

Gastone Moschin has commanding presence and Ray Lovelock is good in the small but important role of the gang’s driver, Rino “The Philosopher”. Add to this a great score by Stelvio Cipriani and you’ve got a poliziescoi well worth seeking out.

Peter

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