The Knock Out Cop

Naples becomes the backdrop for a no-nonsense inspector whose patience wears thin as crime and corruption creep through every corner of the city. Inspector Rizzo, known for his rough humor and stubborn sense of justice, follows a tangled trail from petty thieves to powerful figures. What starts as a street level investigation gradually drags in shadowy figures and a web of complicity that spans neighborhoods, markets, and municipal corridors. The case tests his wits and nerve as he sorts fact from rumor, clashing with tough rivals and a few unlikely allies. The tone mixes action, comedy, crime and drama in true 1970s Italian cinema fashion. The clash with corrupters keeps the pace lively yet grounded in street logic for Naples.

Directed by Steno, the film features Bud Spencer as Inspector Rizzo. The screenplay was written by Lucio De Caro, Luciano Vincenzoni and Nicola Badalucco, and it was released in 1973 as part of Italian crime comedy wave helped define cinema.

Box office data for this title isn't widely documented, making it hard to gauge its commercial reception. What is clear is its continued availability in Italian genre circles and on home video. Its appeal endures in fan discussions and guides.

Over the years the film earned a spot on the cult map thanks to Bud Spencer's rugged charm and Naples street flavor that undercuts the danger with humor. It sits with 70s Italian crime comedies that mix laughs and grit. Its style echoes in later caper comedies and early favorites.

Critics at the time noted the brisk pace and the balance between action and comedy, anchored by Spencer's physical routines and the film's crime driven plot. The movie explores themes of corruption and justice in a city where power can shield wrongdoers. Audiences remember its brisk energy long after release.