Stiletto
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Bernard L. Kowalski
Alex Cord
Britt Ekland
Patrick O'neal
Joseph Wiseman
Barbara Mcnair
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Cesare Cardinali, a playboy and prosperous foreign car dealer, also serves as the "stiletto man," or contracted assassin, for the New York Mafia headed by Emilio Matteo, who, years before in Italy, saved Cardinali's life. Cesare is in a posh nightclub disposing of a Mafia enemy while Manhattan District Attorney Frank Simpson is in court losing a battle to indict Matteo and two other Mafia members. Matteo is released and orders Cesare to kill two possible witnesses who could prove damaging to the Mafia. Cesare does as he is told, but he then goes to Italy (where Matteo has been deported) to announce that he has fulfilled his obligation to the organization. His request to withdraw is refused because, he is told, he is indispensible. Meanwhile, Assistant District Attorney George Baker finds evidence linking Cesare to the killings, and Baker resigns his official position to conduct a private investigation. Cesare returns to the States; he learns that the New York Mafia has marked him for death; and realizing that Matteo is still his only hope, Cesare persuades his mistress Illeana to intercede on his behalf. Illeana heads for the airport to catch a plane to Italy, but she is detained by Baker and forced to reveal her mission before being permitted to leave the country. She persuades Matteo to agree to a meeting with Cesare in Puerto Rico, whereupon the Mafia's patriarch, Don Andrea, decrees that Cesare has outlived his usefulness and must be killed. Cesare is sheltered in the Harlem apartment of another girl friend, Ahn Dessje, while awaiting the go-ahead to meet Matteo. Following a Mafia attack which costs Ahn her life, Cesare leaves for Puerto Rico. Baker, who has learned of the meeting by tapping Illeana's telephone, follows and arrives in time to witness the meeting between Cesare and Matteo. Baker is too late to stop a rifleman perched atop a wall from fatally shooting Cesare; and though Baker kills Matteo, he himself is gunned down by the hidden marksman.
Director
Bernard L. Kowalski
Cast
Alex Cord
Britt Ekland
Patrick O'neal
Joseph Wiseman
Barbara Mcnair
John Dehner
Titos Vandis
Eduardo Ciannelli
Roy Scheider
Lincoln Kilpatrick
Louis Elias
Luke Andreas
Dominic T. Barto
James Tolkan
Amaru
Michaelina Martel
Fat Thomas
Leonardo Cimino
Luis Antonio Martinez
Raul Julia
Crew
John Alese
Alan Bergman
Marilyn Bergman
Stuart Chasmar
Alvin Colt
Bob Drumheller
William Farley
Jack C. Jacobsen
Joseph E. Levine
Frank Mazzola
Jack Priestley
Sid Ramin
Norman Rosemont
Roger Michael Rothstein
A. J. Russell
Peter Scoppa
Sal Scoppa
Jan Scott
Alan Shayne Associates
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Portions of the film were shot on location in New York City and Puerto Rico. Stiletto marked the film debut of actor Raul Julia (1940-1994).
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Summer August 1969
Released in United States Summer August 1969
