A cynical police captain and an idealistic prosecutor differ in the method to unravel a conspiracy connected with a mob boss in Damiano Damiani’s compelling 1971 Polizi film; on Blu-Ray via Radiance Films in April, 2026.
The Films
Confessions of a Police Captain, Damiano Damiani’s 1971 Italian Polizi film, is a fine example of the genre, with a gripping story of corruption, police intrigue and methods, finding one’s way through the fog of legality and duty. With a story by Damiani and Fulvio Giccca Palli and screenplay by Damiani and Salvatore Laurani, it’s a twisty, engaging crime thriller of the best order. Damiani made a career of directing this sort of flick, such as How to Kill a Judge, and one can tell he knows exactly how to put it together. Fun note, he also directed Amityville II: The Possession, the best… well, least worst… of that storied franchise. That’s cheesy bad-good, but Confessions of a Police Captain, with Franco Nero and Martin Balsam, is legitimately great.
I can go for anything with Franco Nero, who often worked with Damiani. With those piercing blue eyes and naturally charismatic demeanour, he’s incredibly watchable and has appeared in so many of these sorts of films. He pairs well with Martin Balsam. This film’s requisite American Import Poster Boy, the detective from Psycho, plays the titular officer here, the closest to the main character. Who exactly is the lead shifts across the feature, as many forces move in about another, creating an intricate and intriguing web of a story.
That interconnectedness of all the sides: the various members of the police department and their own needs and machinations, the perversions of law with the skeevy lawyers, the mob and associations, and the poor civilians caught within. After a man, dressed as a police officer, breaks into and shoots up an office, questions are raised. It sure seems like a setup; someone was tipped off. Was the “businessman” who ran the office told? Did he do it to set up his rival?” Thus is the question as the twisty police procedural continues. Sure, some of these questions are answered quickly, hell even before it goes going, but even a simple explanation is built upon continued questions.
Sure, at points I was a bit confused over the exact who, how, and why; many of those meant to be, others not; I was always involved. (I think I said the same about the last Italian police conspiracy film, Illustrious Corpses, also released by Radiance, back in January). But what Italian flick fully makes sense? That’s part of the fun. Damiani gives the film a beat and drive and a knowing coolness. It’s delicious.
It works with the conflict within. Ideals of Nero’s prosecutor and the world-wearyiness of police captain Balsam create a great dichotomy to explore. Nero is young and idealistic, a follow-the-book sort. Balsam is more cynical and plays within the system while trying to fight against; was he one like Nero? Or does he just know he can’t get any real traction to create a better world? If the city is built on crime and corpses, what doesn’t erode that foundation? Especially when going against the sneering “whatcha gonna do?” mob businessman, played with relish by Luciano Catenacci. In a corrupt society, here in Palermo, with, like Illustrious Corpses, is TOTALLY NOT based on the real corruption in Italy of the time. We know this because of the BIG TEXT at the start. Wink. Wink. The characters and their internal compasses, or lack of, is the effective push. It’s a crime thriller, but the thriller comes from the tension of the interactions, of the threats: veiled or outright. There’s a gun bit early, but this isn’t a chase or action flick.
Damiani, with cinematographer Claudio Ragona using the city itself as a set, gives the film a wonderfully grimy, lived-in nastiness. There’s no glory in the city, shot with a controlled darkness. Ugly world, presented beautifully. The wonderful score by Riz Ortolani brings it home; it’s a top-notch effort in sound.
If you like crime thrillers, especially ones highlighting a different time and place (Italy of 50 years ago), Confessions of a Police Captain is for you. If it’s new to you, as it was for me, it’s a wonderful discovery. Dude, Franco Nero! Need I say more? But really, Nero and Balsam make the center of a great crime flick, with Damiano Damiani’s keen direction and script.
The Package
Radiance puts together another one of its classy cases. The full-length clear case features a reversible sleeve with new designs based on older posters, with a stark clarity of stylish images on a cut blue/white background. Looks great. The case features the OBI slip, allowing removal of disc info to keep a clean case. The film is on a single Blu-Ray with a booklet also featured.
The release is limited to 3000 units.
The Presentation
The 2k restoration is wonderful. It’s a beautifully gritty film, and the Blu-ray shines. That 70s dark and depth! The audio is the original uncompressed mono, offered in both English and Italian with English subtitles.
The Features
Confessions of a Police Captain’s special features are made up of four singular talks. All are fascinating. All are new to this release
Franco Nero
I’ve not hidden how much I appreciate Nero and his career (DJANGO!) He’s been incredibly loquacious across any feature I’ve seen him in, honest and forthcoming about his career, the film world he’s a part of, and how he worked within his films; this and so many others. I can listen to him for days. Here, we get 30 min.
Michele Gammino
New to acting, but connected in the film world, he speaks to that transition, working on the film with established folks like Nero, Balsam, and Damani. Great look from the ground-up storytelling. (23m)
Antonio Siciliano
Oh, this was great. The editor gets into the minutia of the importance of a great edit. Little slices here and there change tones, results, audience reactions, and the like. Real inside baseball, and I’m here for it. (29m)
Riz Ortalani
Film score expert Lovely Jon digs into Ortolani’s fantastic score, along with his other work, such as the infamous Cannibal Holocaust. Man made great scores, and Jon gets well into it, along with the wider views of Italian composers (words at Morricone are expected) (31m)
Gallery
Production photos, behind the scenes, lobby cards, and promotions.
Booklet
A beautifully bound booklet featuring two 1972 interviews with Damiano Damiani.
Final Thoughts
Confessions of a Police Captain is a fantastic 1971 Italian Polizi film from Damiano Damiani. Another example of finding a specific niche in a specific country, something Radiance does very well. A great transfer for a great movie with two great stars in Franco Nero and Martin Balsam.