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[IL COMMISSARIO]

THE INSATIABLES 1969 aka THE LOS ANGELES CONNECTION

Robert Hoffmann, Luciana Paluzzi, Dorothy Malone, John Ireland, Frank Wolff, Romina Power

Directed by Alberto de Martino

****SPOILERS*****

Julius, an advertising spokesman, is the childhood friend of Paolo (Hoffmann). When he is found dead it is uncovered that he possibly knew of some shady deals of a big chemical corporation he was involved in. The evidence of which is found within two diaries he had written. One of which is missing. The other, in the hands of the police. Paolo tries to find out what has happened to his friend and through a series of interrogating interviews, the truth is revealed in a twist finale.

An unusual Italo crime movie from Martino. The film at times plays like a US cop show from the 60s with added violence. There's also a DRAGNET moment where a voiceover of the main character is heard as he is attempting to enter a house. The bulk of the film is told in flashback detailing the events leading up to Julius's death and possibly revealing much more about his true character.

Martino shoots the film in a similar pattern to his later BLAZING MAGNUM in that the intrepid detective interviews a series of disconnected characters that reveal clues about Julius who may not be the person Paolo once knew. In the film, the dubbers pronounce his name Julio but in a newspaper clipping, the name Julius is seen on the front page.

The character of Julius is quite the vicious heartbreaker. He has no qualms about bedding down a woman in the presence of his wife nor any of his liaisons.

Frank Wolff is amusing in his brief role as the homosexual would be villain of the film. It's a shame he isn't on screen that much.

Paluzzi is hot as always and participates in a sex scene although I don't think it is her as you never see her face in the same shot as the fully nude lady on the bed. There's also quite a parade of naked female flesh on display throughout the film. Every few minutes someone is taking their clothes off. About an hour into the film there's even an orgy believe it or not!

There's also a great puking scene that ranks with the best of them when Hoffmann is socked hard in the gut a couple of times. His face is then rubbed in the regurgitation. He is avenged later however, as he rubs one of his assailants faces in a box of cat shit.

The score from Nicolai is suitably Italian but, it too, sounds like an American cop show at times. Very reminiscent of Morricone and catchy. A really sleazy murder mystery that is different from the Merli-Merenda mold of cops and robbers actioners that would appear a few years later.

[Jonny]

I like this film a lot, was quite suprised by some of the violence early on for such an early film, great how Hoffman gets his revenge for having his face pushed in his vomit later on by rubbing that guys face in the cat litter tray! 

I posted this info before on the old forum but thought it interesting enough to re-post it here. I wrote to the BBFC as regards what, if any, cuts were made to this films UK theatrical release. Here's the reply I got.

"As you know, 'The Insatiables' was classifed 'X' on 09 January 1970. It
received the following cuts -

In Reel 1, the beating of Paolo was reduced to a minimum. The shots of him
vomitting and his face being rubbed into the vomit were removed.

In Reel 2, the shot of Paolo hitting a man in the face with a milk bottle
was removed. Paolo's attack on the chauffeur was reduced to a minimum, with
the shot of his face being rubbed into the cat's earth-box being removed.

In Reel 3, all shots of the girl in the scene in which Guilio has fun with
her while his wife watches stripped to the waist were removed. The
love-making between Giulio and Mary was stopped before he removes her
briefs and resumed when he lets in his friends to jeer at her. Shots of
nearly naked dancers in the boxing ring were removed.

In Reel 4, the orgy scene at Gloria's house was stopped as the dancer
begins to strip and resumed on Paolo and Gloria in the garden."

[sadystyk]

In his book What The Censor Saw, John Trevelyn rates it as being a prime example of a film that is not suitable for the Great British cinema going public to see. 

[Paul]

In his book What The Censor Saw, John Trevelyn rates it as being a prime example of a film that is not suitable for the Great British cinema going public to see. 

He didn't mind a rape scene that looked like buggery though, did he? 

[Jonny]

In his book What The Censor Saw, John Trevelyn rates it as being a prime example of a film that is not suitable for the Great British cinema going public to see. 

He didn't mind a rape scene that looked like buggery though, did he? 

Ahhh, God bless, things just aren't the same without him.

[Stephen Grimes]

He didn't mind a rape scene that looked like buggery though, did he? 

Nice one Paul 

[sadystyk]

In his book What The Censor Saw, John Trevelyn rates it as being a prime example of a film that is not suitable for the Great British cinema going public to see. 

He didn't mind a rape scene that looked like buggery though, did he? 

Are you referring to Straw Dogs? If so wasn't that his successor Stephen Murphy (is that the right name?).

[Paul]

I was, but do you know what? I think you're right, mate.

[IL COMMISSARIO]

I like this film a lot, was quite suprised by some of the violence early on for such an early film, great how Hoffman gets his revenge for having his face pushed in his vomit later on by rubbing that guys face in the cat litter tray! 

I posted this info before on the old forum but thought it interesting enough to re-post it here. I wrote to the BBFC as regards what, if any, cuts were made to this films UK theatrical release. Here's the reply I got.

"As you know, 'The Insatiables' was classifed 'X' on 09 January 1970. It
received the following cuts -

In Reel 1, the beating of Paolo was reduced to a minimum. The shots of him
vomitting and his face being rubbed into the vomit were removed.

In Reel 2, the shot of Paolo hitting a man in the face with a milk bottle
was removed. Paolo's attack on the chauffeur was reduced to a minimum, with
the shot of his face being rubbed into the cat's earth-box being removed.

In Reel 3, all shots of the girl in the scene in which Guilio has fun with
her while his wife watches stripped to the waist were removed. The
love-making between Giulio and Mary was stopped before he removes her
briefs and resumed when he lets in his friends to jeer at her. Shots of
nearly naked dancers in the boxing ring were removed.

In Reel 4, the orgy scene at Gloria's house was stopped as the dancer
begins to strip and resumed on Paolo and Gloria in the garden."

I wonder how they got away with re-instating all this into the VHS. I don't recall this being a nasty.This was from a UK tape right, Jonny?

[Jonny]

I wonder how they got away with re-instating all this into the VHS. I don't recall this being a nasty.This was from a UK tape right, Jonny?

They didn't have to re-instate it mate.  VHS editions didn't have to comply with the BBFC ratings in the early 80'S. So as far as 'The Insatiables' is concerned the UK home video version is the uncut version and is longer than the UK cinema release version.

[IL COMMISSARIO]

The pre-nasties era, right? I was wondering how all that stuff was in there.

[Jonny]

UK pre-cert cover

[IL COMMISSARIO]

Dorothy Malone looked good here. I was hoping she'd show a bit more in her strip tease.

[Jonny]

Keith over at 'Giallo Fever' just posted a review of this one...

Linky

[Johan Melle]

Didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as I thought I would - primarily because of Robert Hoffmann who makes a pretty bland lead as usual.

But the soundtrack is amazing! Much better than the film itself. It's still an OK flick, though, and that vomit scene really caught me by surprise.

Btw, does anyone else find this film to be similar in many ways to Freda's DOUBLE FACE from the same year?