Born in 1929, Pat Renella emerged as a distinctive presence in cult cinema, appearing in Dayton's Devils (1968) where he navigates the gritty underworld of crime. His role in A Piece of the Action (1977) further solidified his place in the genre, blending humor with the exploitation themes prevalent in the era. Renella's performances capture the essence of the 1970s grindhouse aesthetic, making him a notable figure in the exploration of American cinematic subcultures.
A Piece of the Action
Dave Anderson and Manny Durrell are two high-class sneak thieves who have never been caught. Joshua Burke is a retired detective who has enough evidence on the both of them to put them behind bars. Instead, he offers to maintain his silence if the crooks will go straight and do work at a youth center for delinquents. At first, the crooks are reluctant and unwilling (and so are the kids). As time goes by they gain the trust and admiration of the kids and they start to enjoy the job. All goes well until someone out of the past tells them they have to do one last heist...or else.
