Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov April 3, 2020

Stelvio Massi's "Highway Racer" a.k.a. "Poliziotto Sprint" (1977) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Camera Obscura. The supplemental features on the disc include large collection of vintage promotional materials for the film and exclusive program with film historian Roberto Curti. The release also arrives with a 10-page illustrated booklet featuring an essay by critic Christian Kebler. In Italian or German, with optional English and German subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

The racer

Remy Julienne is responsible for all of the truly great racing footage you would see in the many European action films from the ‘70s that are now considered ‘classics’. He was a fearless pro that created and did things other stuntmen would not even consider. In Henri Verneuil's The Burglars, for instance, there is an incredible car chase sequence that was shot on the streets of Athens which for a while became the gold standard -- there was just nothing else like it in European films. Julienne’s touch is also instantly recognizable in famous comedies like Gerard Oury’s The Mad Adventures of Rabbi Jacob, Georges Lautner's Happy Easter, and Marcello Fondato’s Watch Out, We're Mad.

Stelvio Massi’s poliziotteschi Highway Racer, however, is the film in which Julienne raised the bar so high that after it there was no more room for improvement. The stunt work that is featured in this film wasn’t just audacious, it was flat-out dangerous, even irresponsible. And it wasn’t the nature of the stunts that made the film unique, it was also Massi’s decision to shoot on historic locations that Julienne and his team could have damaged beyond repair. (In an exclusive program that is included on this release, film historian Roberto Curti addresses one notorious sequence that nowadays would instantly send people on their way to prison). This particular type of extreme gonzo filmmaking will never ever be possible again, which is the main reason Highway Racer ought to be seen. (If you assume that the above text is a careful exaggeration to grab your attention, you are wrong. Classic American racing films like The Driver, Vanishing Point, and Bullitt are not as audacious as Highway Racer. There is an element of unbridled madness in it that elevates the action to a different level. It does not make it better; it is just different).

Maurizio Merli is Marco Palma, a former troublemaker turned cop who is dying to put an elusive crew of robbers that has been terrorizing Rome behind bars. Palma has had a few opportunities to confront their drivers on the road, but his inability to control his emotions has made it impossible to compete with them.

When the veteran police inspector Tagliaferri (Giancarlo Sbragia) realizes that Palma is on the verge of giving up and going back on the streets, he decides to take him under his wing and transform him into a disciplined race driver that can take down the robbers. With Palma’s assistance, he rebuilds a classic Ferrari that years ago he used to go after the leader of the robbers, il Nizzardo (Angelo Infanti), and then the two begin training together. When Palma’s education is complete, he earns Il Nazzardo’s respect and eventually he invites him to be part of his crew. Days before the robbers are about to hit a big bank in the heart of Rome, however, Palma’s girlfriend (Lili Carati) accidentally blows his cover, and Tagliaferri’s perfect plan to put his new partners in prison falls apart. Nevertheless, Tagliaferri instructs Palma to be patient and ready to finish his mission because Il Nazardo and his crew will only adjust their plan to empty the bank’s vaults.

The bulk of the film feels like a modern western with macho characters that have overdosed on testosterone. However, unlike other poliziotteschi from the same era, its intensity does not infuse the story with the nasty street vibe that these types of genre films became known for. The intensity is channeled strictly through the car races, which are indescribably wild and destructive.

Merli does not have a mustache and frequently puts on a pair of black glasses that make him look uncharacteristically cool. When his Italian temperament isn’t showing, his presence before the camera can make you wonder whether he might have been a model for Ryan O’Neal’s character in The Driver.

Massi used the services of two cinematographers, Franco Delli Colli (Rocco and His Brothers) and Ricardo Pallottini (Sacrifice!). The groovy soundtrack was created by the prolific maestro Stelvio Cipriani (Nightmare City).

Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Highway Racer arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Camera Obscura.

The film has been fully restored and looks absolutely magnificent on Blu-ray. I projected the release last night and can comfortably state that it is the best looking one in Camera Obscura's Blu-ray catalog. On a larger screen the density levels and fluidity of the visuals are of what I consider to be 'reference quality'. Depth, clarity, and sharpness are also hugely impressive. I find the color grading convincing as well. The primaries are solid, nicely balanced, and with fine and healthy ranges of supporting nuances. (I don't know where the new master was graded, and I don't know if any original elements were referenced). Image stability is excellent. Lastly, there are no debris, scratches, cuts, damage marks, warped or torn frames to report in our review. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location. For the record, there is no problematic PAL or 1080/50i content preceding the main menu).

Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: Italian LPCM 2.0 and German LPCM 2.0. Optional English and German subtitles are provided for the main feature.

There is one sequence early into the film where I noticed some extremely light buzz in the upper register, while the music was playing. It is likely on the current elements that were used to prepare the newly restored master. The rest is great. Clarity, depth, and stability are all very good. The dialog is easy to follow as well. The English translation is very good.

Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Faster Than a Bullet - in this new program, Italian film historian Roberto Curti discusses the socio-cultural climate in Italy at the time when Highway Racer was made, some of the film's unique qualities and how it differs from other poliziotteschi, Maurizio Merli's performance and appearance, the technical nature of the car chases that are seen in the film, etc. In Italian, with optional English and German subtitles. (20 min, 1080p).

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Highway Racer. With music. (1080p).

• Booklet - 10-page illustrated booklet featuring critic Christian Kebler's essay "A Song of Junk and Sheet Metal" and promotional materials. In English and German.

Highway Racer Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

When a few years ago The Burglars arrived on Blu-ray I wondered if Highway Racer will emerge as well, but at the time I was very skeptical that it would. Well, it is incredible to have this cult film on Blu-ray and looking so mightily impressive. The folks at Camera Obscura prove yet again that they have impeccable taste and care about quality. I urge you to track down a copy of this release while it is still in circulation, because if you don't eventually you will find out how incredible Highway Racer is and will never forgive yourself that you missed it. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.