Luc Merenda Defends Poliziotteschi Legacy: “Right-Wing” Critiques Ignored as Millions Watched
Luc Merenda, the rugged star of 1970s Italian crime films, has no patience for critics who branded his iconic poliziotteschi roles as “right-wing” propaganda. In a fiery September 2025 interview at Paris’ Dolcevita-sur-Seine festival, the 81-year-old actor shrugged off detractors with a now-viral quip: “The Italian right-wing policemen? Of the criticisms, I didn’t give a damn—they had millions of spectators.” As Luc Merenda poliziotteschi quote, Italian crime films right-wing, Luc Merenda 2025 interview, poliziotteschi audience millions, and Italian action films controversy surge in searches, Merenda’s words reignite debate over a genre that defined an era. Spoken to La Stampa on September 21, 2025, his defiance celebrates the gritty allure of films that packed Italian theaters amid the chaos of the 1970s.
Born Luc Charles Olivier Merenda in 1943 near Paris, he swapped a modeling career and sports like savate boxing for Italy’s cinematic spotlight. After cutting his teeth in Spaghetti Westerns (A Man Called Amen, 1972), Merenda became a poliziotteschi titan, embodying rogue cops in urban warzones. These films, born during Italy’s turbulent “Years of Lead” (1969-1980), captivated millions with their raw violence and moral ambiguity, even as intellectuals cried foul.
Poliziotteschi: A Genre That Thrived on Controversy
Poliziotteschi—Italy’s answer to Dirty Harry—emerged as cinematic adrenaline shots during a decade of terrorism, mafia wars, and political unrest. Merenda’s hits like The Violent Professionals (1973, Sergio Martino), Shoot First, Die Later (1974, Fernando Di Leo), and Execution Squad (1977, Steno) delivered vigilante justice in neon-lit cities. With 200+ films produced, the genre drew 10-20 million viewers per major release, outgrossing arthouse rivals, per box-office records. Execution Squad alone topped 12 million admissions in 1977, a juggernaut fueled by Ennio Morricone-esque scores and breakneck chases.
Critics, especially left-leaning academics, slammed the films as fascist apologia, accusing them of glorifying authoritarian cops and vilifying protesters during Italy’s social upheaval. A 1976 L’Espresso review called The Big Racket “a right-wing fever dream,” sparking debates that lingered. Merenda, unfazed, told Corriere della Sera in 2024: “My characters were desperate, not political—people saw themselves in that fight.”
Merenda’s Rebuttal: The People Spoke with Their Tickets
In his La Stampa interview, Merenda doubled down: “Delle critiche me ne infischiavo” (I didn’t give a damn about the criticisms), pointing to the genre’s massive draw. “They had millions of spectators,” he added, framing poliziotteschi as populist catharsis for Italians grappling with 15% unemployment and 800+ terror attacks in the 1970s. Films like Violent Rome offered escape—cops like Merenda’s Commissario Betti weren’t heroes but flawed men battling chaos, resonating with working-class viewers.
X erupted post-interview, with @LaStampa’s clip hitting 2,000 views by September 22, 2025. Fans like @CinephileIT hailed Merenda as “the face of 70s rebellion,” while @NoirVibes proposed a Netflix reboot with him mentoring a new cop. Critics on X, like @FilmPurist, countered: “Poliziotteschi fed reactionary fears—Merenda’s dodging the subtext.”
Merenda’s Poliziotteschi Highlights
| Film Title | Year | Director | Key Appeal & Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Violent Professionals | 1973 | Sergio Martino | Rogue cop vs. mafia; Merenda’s breakout, drew 8M viewers. |
| Shoot First, Die Later | 1974 | Fernando Di Leo | Corrupt cop’s descent; cult classic, 5M+ tickets sold. |
| Execution Squad | 1977 | Steno | Anti-terror crusade; 1977’s top-grosser at 12M admissions. |
| Kidnap Syndicate | 1975 | Fernando Di Leo | Gritty heist-thriller; showcased Merenda’s raw intensity. |
Data: IMDb and Italian cinema archives.
Cultural and Political Echoes in 2025
For U.S. audiences, Merenda’s films mirror Death Wish or Lethal Weapon—vigilante tales that sparked similar debates. In 2025, with polarization spiking (Pew: 62% of Americans see politics in media), poliziotteschi’s legacy feels urgent. The genre influenced Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and modern action flicks, per film scholar Roberto Curti. Economically, reissues by Radiance Films—The Violent Professionals hit Blu-ray in June 2025—revive Merenda for Gen Z, boosting niche streaming revenue.
Merenda’s personal life stays private; the Rome-based “anti-divo” avoids gossip, focusing on his craft. His 2025 festival appearance, alongside peers like Franco Nero, cements his cult status. As one X user (@70sFilmFan) put it: “Merenda didn’t just act—he was the pulse of a pissed-off Italy.”
In sum, Luc Merenda’s defiance—brushing off “right-wing” jabs as his films drew millions of spectators—captures poliziotteschi’s raw power. Luc Merenda poliziotteschi quote, Italian crime films right-wing, Luc Merenda 2025 interview, poliziotteschi audience millions, and Italian action films controversy frame a legacy that thrives on grit, not ideology. Stream Shoot First or catch a reissue—Merenda’s cops still hit hard.
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