The Salamander (1981 film)

The Salamander is a 1981 thriller film directed by Peter Zinner in his directorial debut.^[2] The film is based on a 1973 novel with the same name by Morris West.^[3]

The Salamander
Directed by	Peter Zinner
Written by	Robert Katz (screenplay) Rod Serling (adaptation)
Based on	The Salamander by Morris West
Produced by	Erwin C. Dietrich Paul Maslansky
Starring	Franco Nero Anthony Quinn
Cinematography	Marcello Gatti
Music by	Jerry Goldsmith
Distributed by	ITC Entertainment[1]
Release dates	25 April 1981 (1981-04-25) (UK) 23 May 1983 (1983-05-23) (U.S.)
Running time	96 minutes
Language	English

Plot

Policeman Dante Matucci investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. As the body count grows he sees a pattern that might point to a neo-fascist conspiracy to take over the Italian government.

Cast

• Franco Nero as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci
• Anthony Quinn as Bruno Manzini
• Martin Balsam as Captain Steffanelli
• Sybil Danning as Lili Anders
• Christopher Lee as Prince Baldasar, The Director of Counterintelligence
• Cleavon Little as Major Carl Malinowski, USMC
• Paul L. Smith as The Surgeon
• John Steiner as Captain Roditi
• Claudia Cardinale as Elena Leporello
• Eli Wallach as General Leporello
• Renzo Palmer as Carabinieri Major Giorgione
• Anita Strindberg as Princess Faubiani
• Marino Masé as Captain Rigoli
• Jacques Herlin as "Woodpecker"
• Fortunato Arena as General Pantaleone
• John Stacy as Concierge
• Gitte Lee as Princess Baldasar
• Nello Pazzafini as Manzini's Bodyguard