Street Law Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Street Law Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov March 17, 2019

Enzo G. Castellari's "Street Law" (1974) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Code Red. The supplemental features on the disc include a vintage trailer for the film; exclusive new video program with star Franco Nero; new audio commentary by critic Troy Howarth; and more. In English, without optional English SDH subttiles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Rough entry

Given everything that has happened in Italy in the last couple of years, it is difficult not to conclude that Street Law remains Enzo G. Castellari’s most relevant film. This is exactly the reason why in a new program that is included on this release Franco Nero also points out that only the identities of the criminals have changed -- they used to be rogue Italians, while in borderless Italy virtually all are ‘imports’. And it is just as bad in countries that back in the ‘70s did not have the reputation that Italy had. Look at Sweden, Holland, and even Finland, all once ‘quiet’ countries whose way of life has been irreversibly altered. Nero might be speaking out a bit late, but he is telling the truth.

On a bright and sunny day in Genoa, middle-aged engineer Carlo Antonelli (Nero) enters a large Post Office building and moments later witnesses a very intense robbery that leaves multiple people dead. When a brave guard activates the security system, Carlo is taken hostage by the three heavily armed robbers (Nazzareno Zamperla, Romano Puppo, and Massimo Vanni) and together they manage to reach the city’s giant docks. Here, after the robbers exchange their car, Carlo is brutally beaten and left to die in a puddle of mud.

When Carlo recovers, he visits the Police Department and describes the robbers to a senior detective and his assistants, who attempt to identify them while digging deep into their database. However, their efforts do not produce any credible matches, and Carlo’s case is promptly closed.

Still hurting and barely able to contain his anger that the authorities are unwilling to launch a larger investigation, and much to the annoyance of his girlfriend, Barbara (Barbara Bach), Carlo vows to identify the robbers on his own. Shortly after, he gets the attention of a small-time crook named Tommy (Giancarlo Prete) who agrees to put him in touch with the men he is looking for in exchange for a camera film that documents his most recent shady dealings. Initially, Tommy attempts to pull a fast one on Carlo, which reveals that he actually does not know the robbers, but when he learns how they and the police have treated him the two become partners. Then they start digging, and the deeper they go, the more convinced Carlo becomes that someone is protecting the robbers.

In the new program that is mentioned at the top of this article, Nero confirms that when he agreed to do Street Law with Castellari the two were unaware that Michael Winner and Charlie Bronson were already working on Death Wish. Why is this important? Because both films were completed in 1974, and not only do they promote the exact same form of vigilante justice, but their raw macho style is practically identical.

The port city of Genoa provides some truly spectacular locations for the mayhem that ensues after the robbers escape the Post Office building, but Castellari and cinematographer Carlo Carlini deserve a lot of credit for utilizing them in very particular ways that actually strengthen its authenticity. For example, the long and wild car chase in the very beginning of the film rivals the legendary footage from Henri Verneuil’s thriller The Burglars, but it has a very different borderline documentary vibe. Then when later on Carlo begins clashing with various lowlifes in some of the city’s shadiest parts, once again the location footage is very measured and does not erode the film’s and no-nonsense attitude. (Exactly the opposite routinely occurs in many of Fernando Di Leo’s poliziotteschi films, where the locations are routinely just as great but the footage is shot and edited in ways that can leave the impression that plenty of the action has intensity levels that are flat-out unrealistic).

The film’s message will not appeal to everyone. However, under the circumstances that the film presents, finding a good excuse to turn the rage of Nero’s character against him is without a shadow of a doubt an extremely difficult task. Whenever crime is rampant and the people that society has elected to protect it no longer care, there will be individuals like Nero’s character that will seek to take justice in their own hands.

The retro music feels almost too groovy for the film. It's got some very cool bass parts and even a few harmonica solos that would have been perfect for a psychedelic thriller. The soundtrack was put together by old pros Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (Zorro).

Street Law 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, Enzo G. Castellari's Street Law arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Code Red.

The release is sourced from a beautiful new remaster, arguably one of the best that I have seen for an Italian genre film in quite some. Indeed, aside from some minor encoding tweaks that could have been done to strengthen the technical presentation even more, I think that everything else looks terrific. Depth and clarity are very solid. There are a bits of footage where density levels fluctuate a bit, but it is because different types of footage comes from different locations that were captured under unique conditions. What is important to underscore is that all of it has a very strong organic appearance. Naturally, there are no traces of sharpening, contrast boosting, etc. The color grading is very convincing. There are very nice healthy primaries with equally great supporting nuances. Image stability is outstanding. When the remaster was prepared, damage and other minor imperfections were removed as well. My score is 4.75/5.00. (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).

Street Law Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are not provided for the main feature.

The lossless audio is clean and stable. However, as it is the case with so many other genre films from the same period, Street Law uses a post-production English dub that has some minor but noticeable dynamic fluctuations. Also, some of the exchanges are a bit monotonic, at times sounding slightly flat, but this is again an inherited quality. The music and the action sounds and noises come through the speakers very well. For the record, there are no audio dropouts, pops, or distortions to report.

Street Law Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• U.S. Version - presented here is a shorter U.S. cut of the film. English Dolby Digital 2.0. (77 min, 1080p).

• Trailer - an old VHS trailer for the U.S. version of Street Law. In English, not subtitled. (1 min, 480/60i).

• Interview with Franco Nero - in this outstanding new video program, Franco Nero recalls the beginning of his professional relationship with Enzo G. Castellari, and discusses the production history of Street Law, and the socio-political environment in which the film emerged and its current relevance, some of the rougher action footage, various projects that he did with different cast members (The Salamander, Force 10 from Navarone), how TV and political correctness have virtually eliminated genre films like Street Law, etc. The program was produced and edited by Federico Caddeo. In English, not subtitled. (29 min, 1080p).

• Audio Commentary - in this new audio commentary, critic Troy Howarth deconstructs Street Law, and talks about the era in which it emerged, some of its social overtones, Enzo G. Castellari's style, Franco Nero's performance, etc. The commentary was recorded exclusively for Code Red.

• Alternate Aspect Ratio Edition - an option to view the longer cut of the film in 1.66:1 ratio, with the Anonymous Avenger title. English Dolby Digital 2.0. (1080p).

Street Law Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I am tempted to say that Enzo G. Castellari's Street Law is more effective than its famous American relative, Death Wish. It is certainly the more authentic film and as its star, Franco Nero, suggests in a new program it remains just as relevant as it was during the '70s. Code Red's recent release is sourced from a wonderful organic remaster, quite possibly one of the best that I have seen recently for an Italian genre film, and has a great new program with Nero in which the iconic actor has some very interesting and honest comments about contemporary cinema and the downfall of genre films. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.