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Odds and Evens (Italian: Pari e dispari also known as Trinity: Gambling for High Stakes) is an Italian action comedy film directed in 1978 by Sergio Corbucci and starring the film duo of Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. The film is set in Florida. In the film, a US Marine and his half-brother join forces against the American Mafia and its gambling operations.
| Odds and Evens -Pari e dispari- | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Sergio Corbucci |
| Written by | Mario Amendola, Bruno Corbucci |
| Starring | Terence Hill Bud Spencer |
| Music by | Guido De Angelis Maurizio De Angelis |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | Italy |
In 1979 it was awarded with the Golden Screen Award along with Superman and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.[1]
Plot
editThe Mafia runs an illegal betting sweepstake in Florida. Johnny Firpo, a US Marine from Miami, is tasked to bust this ring. He is tasked with teaming up with gambler turned trucker Charlie Firpo, who is - unknowingly - Johnny's half-brother. To ensure he gets help from Charlie, whom had given up on gambling in an earlier incident against Paraboulis The Greek which resulted in Charlie smashing everything in sight and allegedly breaking Paraboulis' nose, Johnny tricks Charlie into giving him a ride to Miami, then stealing the truck Charlie rode in using the henchmen of Paraboulis as a distraction after offering said truck as payment for losing a poker game.
Johnny reveals that he's Charlie's brother after another fight against the Mafia during a car rally, and telling Charlie he was wanting to earn money from gambling for an eye operation for their father, whom was supposedly blinded by the Mafia, though unknown to Charlie this is a ruse in order to get him to co-operate. This co-operation is first coming to fruition in a horse race where Johnny takes the place of the rider of the horse Lightning Rod, Sam Stallion, in order to win the race, while Charlie tricks one of the 'bookies' into taking an 11-to-1 odds bet on Lightning Rod. Afterwards, Charlie teaches Johnny about the various hands dealt in poker, though an encounter between their father and Paraboulis' henchmen nearly exposes the ruse, but Johnny distracts Charlie enough to make the ruse still stand for the time being.
After winning another betting match, Johnny is then taken to a cruise ship in international waters, the main base of operations of Paraboulis the Greek, where he is invited to a 'friendly family game' of poker with Paraboulis after making a big win at the roulette table, where he uses Charlie's teachings to win match after match, though Charlie intervenes after the ruse is exposed, initially confronting Johnny about it, before the two brothers turn on and beat up Paraboulis the Greek and his henchmen, rolling up the entire illegal gambling ring.
Cast
edit- Terence Hill: Johnny Firpo
- Bud Spencer: Charlie Firpo
- Jerry Lester: Mike Firpo
- Luciano Catenacci: Paraboulis the Greek
- Marisa Laurito: Sister Susanna
- Salvatore Borgese: Ninfus
- Riccardo Pizzuti: Smilzo
- Claudio Ruffini: Bugsy
- Sergio Smacchi: Mancino
- Carlo Reali: Admiral
- Vincenzo Maggio: Tappo
- Woody Woodbury: Admiral O'Connor
- Kim McKay: Pupa
Reception
editThe film was the second most popular Italian film of the 1978-79 season behind Amori miei.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Goldene Leinwand 1979". Goldene Leinwand. Archived from the original on 27 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ "'Grease' is tops in holiday tally". Screen International. 29 September 1979. p. 12.