Born in Biella, Piedmont in 1924, Armando Crispino emerged as a significant figure in Italian cinema during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He directed and wrote The Dead Are Alive! (1972), a film that exemplifies his knack for blending horror with psychological tension. Crispino also helmed the unsettling Autopsy (1975), showcasing his ability to push boundaries within the genre. His work on Commandos (1968) further highlights his versatility as both a director and writer, making him a key player in the cult film landscape.
Commandos
Sgt. Sullivan puts together a group of Italian-Americans into disguise as Italian soldiers in order to infiltrate a North African camp held by the Italians. After the soldiers have knifed the Italians in their beds, they find a hooker living at the camp. Sullivan's commandos are to hold this camp and its weaponry until an American battalion arrives, all the while these Italian-Americans pretend to be Italian soldiers, often hosting the enemy. Lt. Valli is a young, "green," by-the-book officer who constantly argues with Sgt. Sullivan, who tells his superior that he has no idea what he is doing. One man on the base, probably a touch from Argento, is an entomologist who is needlessly killed. Things go terribly wrong after that.
