Watch Stateline Motel

Stateline Motel is a gritty crime drama from 1973 directed by Maurizio Lucidi. The film takes place in a small rural town in California near the Nevada border. The story revolves around several characters who are all interconnected through the Stateline Motel, a run-down motel that serves as a den of vice and crime. Eli Wallach plays Frank, a middle-aged con man and thief who is on the run after robbing a jewelry store. Frank hides out at the Stateline Motel, where he meets Lisa, played by Ursula Andress, a wealthy and bored woman who is staying at the motel with her lover. Frank and Lisa strike up a relationship, and Frank convinces her to invest in his latest scam, which involves stealing drugs from a local mafia boss.

Fabio Testi plays Roberto, a handsome and charismatic police detective who is assigned to investigate the drug theft. Roberto suspects that Frank is involved in the crime and begins to pursue him. However, Roberto is also romantically involved with Lisa, and their relationship becomes increasingly complicated as the investigation heats up.

As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a colorful cast of characters who all have their own motives and secrets. There's the motel owner, who is in cahoots with the local crime boss; the drug-addicted prostitute who becomes embroiled in the drug heist; and the ruthless mob enforcer who is determined to get the stolen drugs back at any cost.

The film is shot in a gritty, low-budget style that perfectly captures the seedy world of the Stateline Motel. The exterior shots of the motel and the surrounding desert landscape are particularly striking, conveying a sense of isolation and desperation. The film's soundtrack, which features a mix of funk and soul music, also adds to the film's dark and moody atmosphere.

One of the most interesting aspects of Stateline Motel is the way it explores the relationships between its characters. Frank and Lisa's romance is both tender and fraught with danger, as Frank struggles to keep his criminal activities hidden from her. Roberto's conflicted feelings towards Lisa and his duty as a police officer also add a layer of complexity to his character.

At its core, Stateline Motel is a grim and nihilistic film that exposes the seedy underbelly of small-town America. The film's view of human nature is a bleak one, as we see characters driven to desperate acts by greed, lust, and addiction. However, the film also has a certain gritty charm and authenticity that is hard to resist.

Overall, Stateline Motel is a compelling and well-crafted crime drama that deserves to be better known. It's a film that will appeal to fans of the genre, as well as those who appreciate gritty, character-driven films. If you're looking for a dark and moody crime thriller that doesn't pull any punches, Stateline Motel is well worth a watch.