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Action Cult Classic

A million-dollar heist turns deadly on an isolated Adriatic island packed with double-crosses.

DOG EAT DOG!

Two killers, a deadly blonde and a million stolen dollars spell death on a lonely, lust-ridden island.

1964 · 1h 24m · NR · Action / Adventure / Crime / Drama / Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Three thieves rip off a shipment of used money being sent back to the US. As they are escaping the robbery (after having taken a hostage), they wind up on an island in a hotel with an apparently crazed manager and a building full of demented residents.

Quick Answer

What is Dog Eat Dog! about?

Dog Eat Dog! is a 1964 Germany-Liechtenstein-Italy action-thriller directed by Gustav Gavrin and Richard E. Cunha about three robbers whose million-dollar heist leads them to a hotel full of dangerous residents and deadly double-crosses.

Programmer's Pick

Dog Eat Dog! serves up a psychotronic cocktail of caper mayhem and island intrigue, with Jayne Mansfield and Cameron Mitchell trading sharp looks and sharper betrayals. If you like your giallo with a pinch of catfight and a whole lot of banknotes, this sun-drenched crime drama delivers.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Dog Eat Dog! drops viewers into the aftermath of a high-stakes heist: Lylle Corbett, Dolph Kostis, and Darlene make off with a million dollars intended for the US. Betrayal is immediate—Dolph tries to eliminate Lylle and convinces Darlene, his conflicted wife, that their partner is gone for good. The pair return to the Hotel Americano, where an observant manager, Livio Morelli, becomes suspicious after spotting a stray banknote. The tension ramps up as Dolph and Darlene flee by boat, unaware of how many eyes are on their haul—or just how many of the hotel’s eccentric inhabitants might be after their own slice of the loot. Greed, suspicion, and shifting alliances set the stage for a claustrophobic caper on an isolated stretch of the Adriatic coast.

Details & Specs

Directors
Gustav Gavrin, Richard E. Cunha
Writers
Michael Elkins, Robert Hill, Leslie Edgley
Release
1964
Runtime
1h 24m
Country
Germany, Liechtenstein, Italy
Language
English
Also Known As
When Strangers Meet, O Crime Caminha a Meu Lado, An Act of Violence, Original title: Einer frisst den anderen

Why This Matters

This 1964 German crime drama features Jayne Mansfield in a leading role, filmed while she was pregnant with Mariska Hargitay, and showcases a notable international cast with production taking place in Yugoslavia.
— SassyFlix Curator

Why Cult

Adriatic Caper

The plot unfolds on a rocky Adriatic island, adding a sun-bleached, isolated edge to the classic heist-gone-wrong formula.

German Giallo Flavor

This is a European giallo-thriller with psychotronic flair, blending crime, suspense, and a dash of madness in a uniquely German-Italian setting.

Jayne Mansfield in Danger

Jayne Mansfield brings intrigue and tension to her role as the conflicted Darlene, caught between loyalty and survival.

Catfights & Double-Dealing

Expect hair-pulling, betrayal, and a rising body count as everyone scrambles for the loot.

Scene Gallery

Threat File

Trigger

Million-dollar heist

Threat

Greed-fueled betrayal and murder

Effect

Rising body count among thieves and island residents

Setting

Isolated Adriatic island and hotel

Questions from the Vault

Who directed Dog Eat Dog!? +

Dog Eat Dog! was directed by Gustav Gavrin and Richard E. Cunha.

When was Dog Eat Dog! released? +

Dog Eat Dog! was released in 1964.

How long is Dog Eat Dog!? +

Dog Eat Dog! has a runtime of 84 minutes.

What genre is Dog Eat Dog!? +

Dog Eat Dog! is an action, adventure, crime, drama, and thriller film.

How does the hotel manager get involved in the heist plot? +

Hotel manager Livio Morelli becomes suspicious of Darlene and Dolph after finding a one-thousand-dollar bill under their bed, connecting them to the robbery he heard about on the radio.

Trailers & Clips