Massacre Mafia Style (1974) aka “The Executioner”, “like Father,like Son”
Directed by:Duke Mitchell
Cast: Duke Mitchell, Vic Caesar
Get ready for one of the most over the top grindhouse flicks of all time, Duke Mitchell’s godly “The Executioner”, a movie that plays in a similar, but way more exploitative and yeah trashier to the Godfather series ,filming narrative. Get ready to witness the rise to glory and then the inevitable fall of the mighty Mimi Michelli, whose antics and exploits (pun intended) leave dozens of dead bodies behind them.
Mimi Miceli, the son of a high-powered mafia don Mimi, a first generation Italian-American has been exiled back to Sicily for his crimes in America. The don’s son Mimi Jr. wants to get back into the family business and transplant it from New York to the streets of Hollywood, the place of his childhood dreams. Mimi heads to Hollywood where he looks up his old Mafioso buddy, Jolly (Vic Caesar) who he finds tending bar. Jolly doesn’t need much convincing to join Mimi back in a life of crime. Mimi tells Jolly his plan to kidnap one of the West Coast Mafia bosses, Chucky Tripoli (Louis Zito) and hold him for ransom, much-needed cash flow to start Mimi’s takeover. Tripoli is kidnapped and Mimi sends proof (Tripoli’s finger in a jewelry box) to Tripoli’s son and wife (played by Duke Mitchell’s real-life wife, Jo Mitchell). Mimi is back in the life and makes a visit to Tripoli’s daughter’s wedding, giving a toast in the name of Sicily and on behalf of his mafia family. It seems that Mimi’s plan is working as he is tolerated within the West Coast clan, even when he hits on their dates. Mimi goes home with one of the women at the wedding (Cara Salerno) who goes along for the ride. With the blessing of the clan, Mimi attempts to takedown a big time West Coast pimp by the name of Superspook (Jimmy Williams) who runs a hustle with “40 women” in the prime real estate between Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Superspook turns out to not be so easy to take down, as the old ways of Mimi don’t have the same effect on the new hippie generation.
Inspired by the supposedly profound impact that the original Godfather film had on the director/lead of this film, Mitchell even nods to the Godfather film in one of his introspective monologues, and by Mitchell’s experiences with the mob while he was running a successful career as a nightclub crooner, ”Massacre Mafia style” needs to be seen to be believed…
This Italian/American Mafia saga packs an impressive bodycount and more memorable scenes in a solid 80 minute runtime than I care to remember.
For Mitchell this one was obviously a labor of love, as it should have felt very personal to him. His deliverance as Mimi Michelli is really eclectic and dare I say unforgettable, as he goes from throwing Henry Silva-esque tantrums to having peaceful moments of reflection and introspection. This of course along with the overall hyperviolent and anarchic film narrative creates a feeling of tension, with the viewer trying, in vain, to guess what will happen next.His filming style is also something to write home about, especially in favor of his more experimental Jodorowsky-esque moments (check Superspook’s crucifixion)
All in all ,Massacre Mafia Style definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to high octane grindhouse exploitation cinema and it is (drumroll) one of the finest American entries in the crime/action genre.
Mitchell’s film got a Greek VHS release in the 80ies by Diamond Video which I already own, but I urge you to buy the blu-ray version by none other than Grindhouse releasing (R.I.P Sage Stallone) which is hands down the ultimate version of the movie, plus it features a gazillion of extras.
I feel like a kid in the candystore right now… dear friends watch this at all costs.
Υπερβατική exploitation σάγκα ,πόνημα ενός τραγουδιστή/σκηνοθέτη/ηθοποιού που μεσουράνησε στα Καλιφορνέζικα ναητ κλαμπς,του Ντιουκ Μίτσελλ.Ο εκλεκτός αυτός κύριος μπορεί να μη γεύτηκε την επιτυχία του Φρανκ Σινάτρα αλλά μας ευλόγησε με αυτό το grindhouse αριστούργημα,το οποίο αφήνει πίσω του εκατόμβη πτωμάτων, μακιαβελικές κινήσεις επι χάρτου από το μαφιόζο αντιήρωα του Μιτσελλ και σκηνές ανθολογίας όπως ολόκληρη η εναρκτήρια σεκανς, μια ιδιότυπη σταύρωση, ένα ιδιότυπο σφαχτό κρεμασμένο από τσιγκέλι και μια κηδεία που μένει αξέχαστη σε όλους τους τεθλιμμένους συγγενείς.
Το massacre mafia style είναι εξωφρενικό,απόλυτα μηδενιστικό σε σημεία, παντελώς απρόβλεπτο και φυσικά έργο ζωής για το Μίτσελλ,ο οποίος παραδίδει μια ερμηνεία ράπισμα, γεμάτη από ξεσπάσματα κακίας αλλά και στιγμές απολογισμού-αυτοκριτικής.
Το massacre mafia style είναι από τα καλύτερα grindhouse flicks που τούτα δω τα μάτια έχουν αντικρίσει .Αναζητήστε το και δειτε το με κάθε κόστος.