Massacre Mafia Style Blu-ray + DVD Combo

A wonderful tribute to a truly idiosyncratic talent. Sadly, Duke Mitchell died fairly young (55) of lung cancer. Don't smoke, Paisans.Directed, written and starring Duke Mitchell, better known as a musician, and after seeing this movie, you’ll still know him better as a musician, is a mafia movie that certainly feels gritty and realistic, but man, does the story jump all over the place! I could barely follow what the h**"was going on, as you have sudden time jumps of several years, which is only explained by having Duke Mitchell’s hair turn gray. It’s a wonderful mess of a film, but you know what, it has a low budget charm that sticks with you long after the credits roll. In fact, the charm you will stick with you that much longer if you buy the Grindhouse Releasing Blu-ray, as the disc is a love letter to Duke Mitchell, with plenty of other surprises I’ll get into the features in the features section below.YOU’RE IN, OR YOU’RE IN THE WAY!Italian-American actor and nightclub singer Duke Mitchell wrote, produced, directed and starred in this homemade answer to THE GODFATHER, self-financed with earnings from his career as the self-proclaimed “Mr. Palm Springs.” Previously best known (I'd like to think the two GH releases changes this) for his Martin and Lewis act with Sammy Petrillo as seen in BELA LUGOSI MEETS A BROOKLYN GORILLA, Duke plays the ruthless son of a Mafia kingpin who blasts his way through Hollywood on a bloody crime spree. Promising “more guts, more action, more dynamite” than the Mario Puzo gangster classic, MASSACRE MAFIA STYLE delivers an onslaught of low-budget mayhem unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Grindhouse Releasing proudly presents the definitive release of one of (non-horror) the most violent movie ever made.As previously mentioned, Duke Mitchell (also seen in a film by porn director, Anthony Spinelli, and voiced and episode of The Flintstones) stars in his directorial début as Mimi Miceli, the son of Mafia Kingpin, Don Mimi. Don was exiled out of the US and his son, Mimi (Mitchell) wants to go back to Hollywood and take over the mafia scene, but in order to do so, he has to leave his father and young son back in Sicily. Without hesitation, Mimi leaves for the sunny land of fake personalities and quickly gets connected with the head of the mafia, Chucky Tripoli. The way he does it is pretty interesting, although, rather excessive if you ask me. Without spoiling it, an appendage is removed and after a couple shakes of hands and a few fake smiles later, he is in the good graces of the mafia group. From there the film jumps ahead several years, without telling you, and interjects a bunch of random scenes involving singing, shooting random people and filming pornography, cause you know, a man has to go the straight and narrow after killing so many people. After Mimi becomes bored with the porno scene, he finds out that the people he trusted is trying to kill him and he goes on a rampage, resulting in some amazing scenes of carnage and epic monologues about crime, mafia families, the Italians, and a bunch of racist material. Also stars Cara Salerno - veteran of several Nudie Cuties and Roughies - including several by Russ Meyer!Massacre Mafia Style doesn’t make a lick of sense, and by God, I love it for just that reason. It’s like Duke Mitchell just took a bunch of different things he saw as a child growing up (the electrocution/urinal scene is based in reality, allegedly.) and put them in the movie, hoping it would work. It does. This movie is a blast - I haven't been so entertained in recent memory. It’s certainly "bad" but the charm of terrible acting, a nutty, incoherent story and an ending that comes out of left field, or Mars, makes it one movie that is worth checking out - ideally with a bunch of pals.The Blu-ray from Grindhouse Releasing is quite the wonder to behold. A lot of work went into improving the video and audio of Massacre Mafia Style and a big bravo needs to be given. The film is looking absolutely fantastic, especially when you compare it to the included trailer, which shows a film full of dirt and scratches. There is still a bit of dirt here and there, but nothing that detracts from your enjoyment of this meatball. The audio fares just as well, packing a nice punch and delivering that wonderfully inappropriate soundtrack through your speakers. No subtitles, however.Special Features for Massacre Mafia Style are many, although not much is actually about the movie you just watched. The features mostly focus on Duke Mitchell and his personal and professional life. I would have loved to have learned more about the movie (a commentary track would have been welcome, but for anyone that wants to know anything about Duke, you’ll be in heaven here. You have a terrific documentary (roughly 43 minutes - I wish it was longer) that interviews Duke’s son, Jeffrey Mitchell (toured the U.K. with Suzi Quarto, Slade and more) and goes deep into Duke’s life. (A showbiz who's who - too many celebrities to mention - The Manson Family even puts in an appearance!) Duke's opinion of Jimi Hendrix will peel the paint on the walls. Yikes! The interview does a good job addressing the films un-PC/ racism. The doc, if lengthened, would be a feature film worth buying as a stand-alone disc. Great stills, archival footage and all around production values makes this one of the best "extras" I've seen.Also, a slew of home videos, a short interview (10 minutes) with exploitation legend (and this films co-star)actor/director/ producer Matt Cimber and co-star Jim Lobianco, which is probably the only feature on here that goes into any sort of detail about the making and marketing of the movie; numerous still galleries, trailers, radio spots, filmographies and lots more. It’s quite a list of stuff included, which you can see below, however, there is one feature I need to point out, the aforementioned, Cara Salerno, who stars in the movie and bares her “talents”, has a filmography included as a feature and inside you have the option to view a nude photo gallery of her. It’s a sight to behold! Also included in her (impressive!) filmography is a trailer for a movie she starred in: a 60’s, roughie titled Space Thing (it takes place in 2069. Rimshot).Stunning digital restoration of the original mono soundtrack. (No subtitles, though.)Interviews with Jeffrey Mitchell, Frankie Ray, George Jacobs, Jim LoBianco, and exploitation legend Matt CimberAlmost one full hour of never-before-seen Duke Mitchell home moviesLost audio recording – Duke Mitchell Live in Concert, June 9, 1960Bonus TV special – AN IMPRESSIONISTIC TRIBUTE TO JIMMY DURANTEExtensive still galleries, radio spots, and theatrical trailerDuke Mitchell Filmography (lots of surprises!)Cara Salerno Filmography and nude gallery!!!Glossy booklet containing liner notes by veteran cult movie journalist David SzulkinSpectacular new cover painting by renowned Los Angeles cult artist Dave Lebow“Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla” (74 minutes) – Feature length movie starring Duke Mitchell and Bela LugosiOther Grindhouse Releasing Trailers (14 trailers)BD-ROM Content – Scripts and high-res photo scansAs you can see, the Blu-ray of Massacre Mafia Style from Grindhouse Releasing is jammed full, almost bursting out of its Blu-ray case. The movie itself is certainly a cheesy mafia affair, but one that is fun just because it’s so completely insane. Duke Mitchell should be proud of what he produced and if he was alive today, he would be amazed at the fantastic job Grindhouse Releasing did on this Blu-ray. A perfect pickup for anyone interested in having a great time.

This film is RAW, GRITTY, TARANTINO-esque and VERY 1970's !!!!!!!!!!!!! A film with balls and a one that will stand the test of time !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!The acting of the extras is so bad in this one...that it actually adds appeal to the film. What Django (1966) is to Spaghetti Westerns...that is what Massacre Mafia Style (1974) also known under alternative title as-- Like Father, Like Son...is to mafia films.Duke Mitchell directed and started in this mafia-exploitation flick, and he also composed the theme song, which can be heard at end of the film.The film is roughly about Mimi Miceli (Mitchell) who travels from Sicily to Los Angeles (Hollywood) to avenge his disgraced father who has been deported from the USA back to Italy many years ago. He sets out to find a childhood friend he once knew when he lived in the States with his father. The man he is looking for also happened to be the son of the enforcer who worked for Mimi's father. He finds him working in one of the LA bars, and the two men quickly reunite and began to change things around the Hollywood area...but not without making enemies...Massacre Mafia style is an Italian mafia film along the lines of Fernando di Leo's films, such as: The Italian Connection (1972), Caliber 9 (1972), The Boss (1973) or Rulers of the City (1976).

This is one of those films that touches places in your heart that have very little to do with quality or cinematic prowess. This movie made me want to be living back in the 70s near a grind house in times square. It reminded me of my father's dopy friends with names like dig dig and Nicky D. It was so much fun hearing those classic Italian wedding songs and watching these guys posture in a way that just makes me miss the hell out of an era and a faction of wanna be gangsters that have all the swagger and none of the violence in their hearts. Yes it's violent, no it doesn't make much sense but hell I am going to watch it over and over just for that feeling I had living in NYC in the most decadent time in history. God bless Duke Mitchell and if you were born in the 50's or 60's buy this film. Hell if you want to know what it was like back in the 70's this is your ticket.

First, a warning about this film: This is a raw 1970s exploitation film with all kinds of politically incorrect values, opinions and whatnot else. Lots of violence, sex and nudity. If this isn't your cup of tea, now would be a good time to move on.Having said that, I really liked the movie. Duke Mitchell wrote, directed and starred in what was obviously a project he believed in greatly. Filmed on a shoestring with occasional shaky acting (except from Mitchell himself, whose enthusiasm makes one overlook a lot of the movie's deficiencies), it still has panache and chutzpah to burn. Mitchell's protagonist Mimi Micelli has several long self-absorbed monologues on the lost honor of the Italian people, but it only adds to the charm. This is definitely a film of its time.The picture is incredible: forget the fuzzy trailers and clips you've seen on YouTube: apart from the very occasional camera blurriness, this film looks like it was shot yesterday. The only complaint is a lack of subtitles or captions.As good as the movie is, the special features are even better. There's an almost hour-long retrospective of Duke Mitchell's life, tons of home movies including an audio performance of an entire 1960 Duke Mitchell concert (think Dean Martin with just a touch of Sammy Davis' manic energy), a bunch of trailers for other 70s exploitation films (including Mitchell's own upcoming "Gone With the Pope" Blu-ray release), and the entire 1950s film "Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla," featuring Lugosi (obviously), Mitchell, and low-rent Jerry Lewis wannabe Sammy Petrillo.Highly recommended for anyone who likes 1970s films, mafia films, or grindhouse films in general.

Absolute masterpiece! This film starts up cranked to 11 and never quits. Slow moments are chewed up by Duke Mitchell's always cool demeanour and captivating performance.The quintessential mob film.

Duke Mitchell's uproariously un-PC cheapie Godfather homage was a labour of Italian-American love. It's hard to adequately describe this film - taken on its own merits it's a somewhat scrappy, violent, poorly acted, self-indulgent but earnest affair but what the wonderful supplements that Grindhouse has put together do is give a sense of the man - his Italian heritage, the time and the place. If you watch the film after hearing what his friends, family and crew have to say about him, the film takes on the aura of Duke, his abrasive charm, and becomes almost a monument to him.Recommended. The work that Grindhouse Releasing has put into this long-promised bluray is nothing short of stellar, both on the audio-visual front and the quality of the supplements. Region-free, if you're buying from the UK.