Kriminal (Italy, 1966) 98 min color DIR: Umberto Lenzi. SCR: Umberto Lenzi. PROD: Giancarlo Marchetti, Claudio Teramo. MUSIC: Romano Mussolini. DOP: Angelo Lotti. CAST: Glenn Saxson, Helga Liné, Andrea Bosic, Ivano Staccioli, Esmeralda Ruspoli, Franco Fantasia, Maria Luisa Rispoli. (Titanus)
Apparently Max Bunker was displeased with writer-director Lenzi’s screen adaptation of his and Magnus’ Kriminal creation. Not only was he cast as a much younger character than depicted in the fumetti, but the source material’s sadistic tone was watered down to a more lighthearted approach. “Lighthearted” is never an adjective associated with the films of Umberto Lenzi. While the plot is interesting, it never truly commands your attention. At best, the film seems reserved. Helga Liné is perhaps best remembered today for her Spanish horror films of the 1970s. This German-born Portuguese-Spanish star has a unique screen presence; with her distinctive eyebrows, she is well cast as in vampish roles. (The Italian superhero genre kept her well employed for a while.) She is this film’s true novelty: playing a dual role, as two woman couriers who are carrying jewels. Of course both of them aren’t transporting the goods- one is really a plant to distract the people who want to steal them. Of course, Kriminal is too smart to be fooled by a bait and switch routine… or is he? This story soon fizzles out, despite some interesting set pieces, including a stunt on a moving train, and location shooting in Istanbul.
Dutch actor Glenn Saxson (real name Roel Bos) is however perfectly cast as Kriminal. His clean-cut, sharp features so much recall the looks of Flash Gordon or Brick Bradford. In another place and time, he would have a made a great matinee idol of Saturday afternoon serials. Alas, the only time the film genuinely feels like a comic book is in the abrupt ending, when the climax is abridged into a few comic strip panels. It is a lazy way to wrap up the movie, and feels like a cheat. Did they lose the live action footage, and opt to present it this way as a last-minute save?