It took me quite a while to locate this rare Poliziotesschi here on IMDb. The old and crummy VHS-tape I proudly possess has as title "A Big City Cop" and doesn't list any cast or crew members' names. Research eventually taught me the more commonly known international title is "City under Siege". Shame, because that title reminds me too much of the moronic sixth installment in the "Police Academy" series and, moreover, "A Big City Cop" is a more fitting title. The film does revolve entirely around a cop in a big city, but the city in question isn't exactly under siege...
Looking at the fascinating universe of Italian Poliziotesschi flicks from the 70s, it pains me to say that all the great classics and worthwhile gems have already been (re-)discovered and released on DVD/BluRay. The ones that remain and are practically untraceable maybe aren't great or spectacular enough to be rediscovered, like this "City under Siege", unfortunately. Despite the presence of respectable director Romolo Guerrieri ("The Sweet Body of Deborah") and a few excellent actors like Enrico Maria Salerno ("The Bird with the Crystal Plumage"), "City under Siege" never really comes off the ground, and the dull and overly talkative sequences are far more plentiful than the action and suspense moments.
The main problem (or, at least, MY main problem) with the film was the hectic and incoherent scenario that is - literally - all over town. The original Italian title translates as "A Man, A City" and that's exactly what the film is. Salerno depicts an ageing Inspector with a weak heart, and he deals with a variety of crime in the city of Turin. There's drug racketing by the kids of influential aristocrats, violent jewel store robberies, rape, the murder of a prostitute, frame-ups, harrowing suicides of young children in poverty, and - the only exciting part - the hostage taking of a postal train. The odd thing is that Inspector Parrino never actually solves anything, which makes the film feel like a satirical and borderline depressing portrait of a fatigue copper.
"City under Siege" still comes carefully recommended to the fans of Italian crime/thrillers, but then more to the admirers of Damiano Damiani than to the fans of, say, Umberto Lenzi or Stelvio Massi. It has style, good performances, and an intelligent script, but more virulent shootouts and car chases are always a good idea!
