If you're into Italian cars of the seventies, this might just be the right flick for you. Apart from that, it's not too bad, including a great opening sequence, a simple but gorgeous score by Stelvio Cipriani, a couple of decent chase scenes (for a real good one, see Fernando di Leo's "La Mala Ordina" or Michele Lupo's "Un Uomo di Rispettare"), plus a leather-clad killer with a butcher's cleaver. Much more poliziotto than giallo, "La polizia chiede aiuto" tries to mask its sensationalism as a "serious topic" which works better than you might think: It's gritty, slow-moving in a good way, pretty tame in terms of sleaze, well-cut and competently directed by former Leone cinematographer Dallamano, who's also responsible for the autumnal flow of the movie. Regrettably, the script works against the director, as in so many poliziotti and giallos of the time, spoiling the movie with a lame, mediocre and flawed ending. The British "Shameless" DVD edition might be uncut, but comes with an awful drone that might haunt you in your sleep. The movie won't.
