'Highway Racer' aka 'Poliziotto Sprint'(1977) - Stelvio Massi.

After only recently pondering the multitude of singularly splendid Euro-crime titles I have seen over the years, I can say with some considerable enthusiasm that 'Poliziotto Sprint' (1977) has become one of my all-time favourite Massi/Merli collaborations, well, top 5 at least! My overwhelmingly feelings running somewhat contrary to the few rather lukewarm reviews I have barely endured reading, leading me to strongly question whether or not we have even watched the same action-packed adrenalin-jacked film! As once again, I found hyper-masculine Maurizio Merli's sans-moustache, speed-demon, douche bag-fragging, joyously hell-raising, J&B chugging copper to be an entirely riveting, hot-blooded creation, and the plentiful, gonzo display of bravura stunt driving is second to none; and if all that exploitation goodness didn't suffice, we also enjoy a sweetly funky soundtrack by Euro-crime soundtrack deity, Stelvio Cipriani, and I, for one, was left gloriously spent, giddy with unalloyed boy's own excitement after the experience, and wonder to this very day why on earth this fabulously entertaining actioner remains such a frustratingly obscure title. Personally, I passionately feel that ALL the Merli/Massi collaborations should now be made available in handsomely restored DVD/Blu-ray prints, as Stelvio Massi was always a superior craftsman and Maurizio Merli is the diamond-hard definition of Italian retro, hard boiled, Euro-crime cool, and, hot-damn! He looks deliciously, dangerously dapper in his nifty skinny-fit denim shirt and just snug-enough, bad boy leather-jacket! 'Poliziotto Sprint' is a petrol-headed, tarmac-tormenting, Euro-crime dream!

 

'Very few cars can grip the stairs like a Ferrari, baby!'

'Talk with the hands all ya' want, my ass aint listening!'