We’ve reviewed each of the films in the Violent Streets collection in detail, and here we will compile the links to each of them individually along with a synopsis of the review.
Almost Human
Almost Human is a brutal poliziotteschi and Severin Films’ first entry in the Violent Streets collection features a great transfer loaded with extras. While this has gotten Blu-ray releases in the past, I recommend this one for both its visual qualities and special features.
Syndicate Sadists
Syndicate Sadists is a fun poliziotteschi with Milian in a showcasing role, and here Severin Films has given the movie a great transfer and a number of extra features not found on past releases. Another great offering in the Violent Streets boxset.
Free Hand for a Tough Cop
Free Hand for a Tough Cop is a viciously entertaining poliziottesco that touches on similar themes as Lenzi’s other works in the sub-genre but branches out for a different approach. This release in the Severin Violent Streets boxset matches the previous quality with a great transfer and plenty of extras.
The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist
While it may not be the best poliziottescho in the Lenzi/Milian canon, The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist is still a great offering from Severin with a transfer and extras that match in quality with the rest of the Violent Streets boxset, and the best PQ available.
Brothers Till We Die
Brothers Till We Die is probably the least successful Lenzi/Milian collaboration in the Violent Streets boxset, but it still gets aristocratic treatment with a great transfer and about an hour of new extra features.
Boxset
Severin Films’ Violent Streets boxset collects all five films with an excellent transfers for each release. No one film suffers from any specific problems, except perhaps from issues with the source itself; the combination of HD and 2K scans provide arguably the best quality available for each. English and Italian audio tracks for all films, as well as English and translated English subtitles, ensure audiophiles are well-covered. An impressive amount of extras (list below) along with CD soundtracks for four of the five films gives ample justification for grabbing this boxset, and of course the packaging itself – along with cover artwork for each individual box – will look impressive on any collector’s shelf.
Overall, this is a collection well worth the money, and the effort Severin Films has spent on this is noticeable and justified.
Please also see our comprehensive gallery of screenshots for each of the films, collected here.
EXTRA FEATURES
DISC ONE: Almost Human
- NEW Scanned uncut from the original negative
- Audio Commentary With Screenwriter Ernesto Gastaldi
- NEW Audio Commentary With Mondo Digital’s Nathaniel Thompson And Troy Howarth, Author Of Make Them Die Slowly: The Kinetic Cinema of Umberto Lenzi
- NEW Violent Milan – Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi (1080p; 29:01)
- Milian Unleashed – Interview With Actor Tomas Milian (1080p; 25:51)
- NEW A History Of Violence – Interview With Ernesto Gastaldi (1080p; 37:44)
- NEW Italian American Gangster – Interview With Actor Henry Silva (1080p; 5:30)
- Trailer (1080p; 3:23)
DISC TWO: Almost Human CD soundtrack
DISC THREE: Syndicate Sadists
- First Blood – Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi (1080p, 8:04)
- Family Affair – Interview With Actress Ida Galli (1080p, 17:13)
- Kidnapped – Interview With Actor Alessandro Cocco (1080p, 27:02)
- Interview With The Fascist – Interview With Actor Bruno Di Luia (1080p, 24:17)
- Trailer (1080p, 3:31)
DISC FOUR: Syndicate Sadists/Brothers Till We Die CD soundtrack
DISC FIVE: Free Hand for a Tough Cop
- NEW Scanned in 2K from the original negative
- NEW In The Asphalt Jungle – Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi (1080p; 3:46)
- NEW Tough Guy Corrado – A Look At The Career of Corrado Solari (1080p; 38:45)
- NEW The Father Of Monnezza – Interview With Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (1080p; 34:02)
- NEW Hand-Held Camera For A Tough Cinematographer – Interview With Cinematographer Nino Celeste (1080p; 15:40)
- NEW Making Movies – Interview With Producer Ugo Tucci (1080p; 12:10)
- NEW Extended Bank Robbery Scene Sourced From The Original Negative (1080p; 3:27)
- Trailer (1080p; 3:24)
DISC SIX: The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist
- NEW Scanned in 2K from the original negative
- NEW Merli vs. Milian – Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi (1080p; 4:18)
- A Man Of Action – Interview With Umberto Lenzi (1080p; 10:13)
- Me, Milian And Merli – Interview With Umberto Lenzi on His Iconic Characters (1080p; 19:33)
- NEW The Writer, The Director And The Actor – Interview With Screenwriter Dardano Sacchetti (1080p; 32:00)
- Here Comes The Fist – Interview With Actor John Saxon (1080p; 8:37)
- Trailer (1080p; 3:41)
DISC SEVEN: The Cynic, the Rat and the Fist CD soundtrack
DISC EIGHT: Brothers Till We Die
- Tomas And Tomas – Interview With Director Umberto Lenzi
- He Called Me ‘The Tamer’ – Interview With Editor Eugenio Alabiso
- Music And Bullets – Interview With Composer Franco Micalizzi
- Heart Of Rome – Interview With Composer Antonello Venditti
- Trailer
