Watch Beast with a Gun

Beast with a Gun is a 1977 Italian crime thriller film directed by Sergio Grieco (credited as Sidney Lean in the US release) and starring Helmut Berger, Marisa Mell, Richard Harrison, and Marina Giordana. The film is also known as Mad Dog Killer and La belva col mitra (which translates to "The Beast with the Gun"). The plot revolves around sadistic criminal Nanni Vitali (Helmut Berger), who escapes from prison with the help of his gang and sets out on a revenge mission against corrupt police officer Inspector Vanni (Richard Harrison), who had played a key role in Vitali's conviction. Along the way, Vitali kidnaps a wealthy heiress named Barbara (Marina Giordana) in order to finance his plans. However, his plans soon become complicated when he begins to develop feelings for Barbara.

The film starts off with Vitali killing a fellow inmate in prison and being sentenced to a longer term. Vitali, however, has other ideas and breaks out of prison with the help of his gang. His first act upon getting out is to exact revenge on Inspector Vanni, who he believes is responsible for his extended sentence. Vitali and his gang kill Vanni's girlfriend in front of his eyes and blow up his car.

The police are hot on Vitali's trail, but he continuously evades them. He kidnaps Barbara and holds her for ransom, but soon starts to develop feelings for her. Barbara, on the other hand, starts to see Vitali's softer side and begins to sympathize with him. At the same time, Vitali's gang members become increasingly frustrated with his affections for Barbara and want to eliminate her. In the midst of all this, Inspector Vanni launches his own personal vendetta against Vitali.

The film features quite a bit of violence and action, with shootouts, car chases, and explosions. It's a fairly gritty and brutal film, with its fair share of blood and gore. The central character, Nanni Vitali, is a particularly vicious and sadistic criminal, prone to violent outbursts and prone to taking extreme measures to achieve his goals.

One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the way it portrays Vitali's relationship with Barbara. While he initially sees her as nothing more than a means to an end, the two start to develop a connection as the film progresses. At times, it almost seems as though Vitali wants to protect her rather than harm her, despite his brutal tendencies.

Overall, Beast with a Gun is a solid Italian crime thriller that is definitely not for the faint of heart. It's a violent, brutal film that is sure to appeal to fans of the genre, particularly those who enjoy the work of Sergio Leone and other Italian directors from the same era. The performances are strong throughout, particularly from Helmut Berger, who delivers a standout performance as the sadistic Nanni Vitali.

Beast with a Gun is a 1977 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.9.