Bud Spencer gives a wonderfully warm and charming performance as Bulldozer, an amiable, but ill-tempered former pro football player turned fisherman who's recruited by a wacky gang of street people to whip them into shape for a major all-or-nothing football game against a rival group of American soldiers led by gung-ho jerk Sergeant Kempfer (a deliciously obnoxious portrayal by Raimund Harmstorf). Director Michele Lupo and screenwriters Marcello Fondato and Francesco Scardamaglia concoct a blithely silly and lighthearted comedy that not only delivers the expected amusingly goofy slapstick humor (several wild rough'n'tumble fight scenes in particular are absolutely hilarious), but also a nice small coastal town atmosphere, likable characters, and a truly uplifting story in which Bulldozer gives his misfit team a much-needed sense of self-worth while the team in turn help Bulldozer regain his passion for the game. Spencer easily carries the film on his massive shoulders as the decent and honorable Bulldozer; he receives excellent support from Kempfer, Ottaviano Dell'Aqua as smartaleck Gerry, Marco Stefanelli as lanky klutz Tony, Giovanni Vettorazzo as swift, wily thief Spitz, and Reinhard Kolldehoff as the stern Colonel Martin. Both Franco Di Giacomo's slick cinematography and the bubbly score by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis are up to speed. The climactic football game is very funny, gripping and exciting. A hugely enjoyable little hoot.
7 Reviews
Italy goes Football
kosmasp4 March 2021
But American Football, not the one that we call Football in Europe (which would be the one they call soccer in America). Now I very likely had seen this as a kid, like I did many other movies starring Bud Spencer (his not Italian name, I had no clue what nationality he was, since everything was dubbed in Germany) - many with his partner in crime Terence Hill (also not his Italian name). In this case the movie only stars Bud Spencer, but he is enough fun - no pun intended.
The movie is quite the throwback to my childhood and was a nice watch overall, but I would understand if some felt it hasn't aged too well. Not much story, a lot of shenanigans and so forth. But the charisma of Bud really elevates this to a degree that should help most to just have fun with it.
The movie is quite the throwback to my childhood and was a nice watch overall, but I would understand if some felt it hasn't aged too well. Not much story, a lot of shenanigans and so forth. But the charisma of Bud really elevates this to a degree that should help most to just have fun with it.
Fun watch for football, but most of all Bud Spencer fans
Horst_In_Translation31 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Lo chiamavano Bulldozer" or "Uppercut" is an Italian Italian-language film from 1978, so this one is already over 40 years old. There are two versions out there apparently with one running for 110 minutes (the original) and the other being cut down to slightly over 1.5 hours. I will spare you the names of the director and writers here, but let me tell you they are all pretty experienced, mostly with Italian projects. One of the writers is even German, which caught my attention, but it kinds makes sense and explains why this film is a West German co-production. Bud Spencer movies were a really, really big thing in German back then, and Carlo Pedersoli (his real name) was still in his 40s when he made this movie. Huge crowd pleaser and this movie did not only win a Bravo Otto, but also once again the Golden Screen, an award in my country that was solely based on financial success and so many people wanted to watch Bud Spencer films back then that it is not a surprise at all. He is still really famous here in my country, but back then, he was really going through the roof. He played in some movies that took place on exotic islands and others in more realistic places where he was dealing with criminals, but this film here is relatively harmless. Well, they are all harmless as they are comedy at their cores, but this one is especially harmless. In fact, there is crime in here too, but it is the good guys for once who commit these crimes, but they don't do it because they are morally bankrupt, but just because they somehow do not have anything better to do ith their times. Still Bud makes sure to send out a message that it is not alright, for example in that scene with the stolen watches. He wants those boys to see there is a better way. Or another scene is the one with the kid who has pretty great moves as he also gets to feel Bud's fists in a pretty rough manner. He's alright though, joins the team quickly afterward. But this scene, especially the moment the guy walks into the alley after another robbery and we see him being punched outside right where he went in, was one of the most hilarious, funniest moments of the entire film. In general, when bud was using his power, things got fairly entertaining and it was not important if it was intentional or unintentional. Just a few examples: the door he breaks at the very beginning unintentionally. Or later on when the bad guy tells him to leave, there is another funny door inclusion, this time certainly on purpose. Still I must say the talk between the two was maybe among the weaker moments with how the bad guy actually lost money back then because of Bulldozer and also Spencer has one strange animal-themed quote and reaction there that wasn't as funny as it was supposed to be. Back to the positive: Another example how he funnily breaks something was when he wins the arm wrestling fight against the bad guy. This entire scene was pretty epic, especially Bud's face expressions when he acts as if he is losing, but the highlight is the moment he wins because at the same time he also crashes the table they were using for said competition. Too much power. On one occasion, Bud says to one of the young guns that there is always somebody superior to everybody out there, but as Terence Hill, who manages to be like that at least occasionally, is not in this film, Bud dominates them all, so it may not be true about himself, even if it somewhat shows that he is humble.
One interesting aspect about this film is the title. A bulldozer is a big machine, but for the German title they used the term for mosquito and I really wonder why because there sure is an irony to this term. They did not use a description that fits his size like the original does. This becomes especially significant when they also had to change the meaning of a dialogue sequence a bit when Bud is asked why he has such a nickname. And in the American English-language version, he has another nickname in fact, namely one from the world of boxing. I guess dialogue translators had to be creative here for sure. Oh well. This dialogue was also with one of the boys. As the film goes on, Bud is not just their coach, but also somewhat makes sure they are alright mentally and they all have some issues. Be it gambling, be it crime, be it melancholy, there is a lot going on with his team fur sure, also aside from the physical aspects. I must say this did not do too much for me unfortunately. It was an ounce of depth they were going for, but I could have done without it. Probably they just did not want the movie to be too short. Also the final football game was slightly on the underwhelming side, not because it was so unrealistic with all the injuries going on and differing quantities of players etc., but also it was all a bit messy in general, really more gimmicky and somewhat pointless, just a preparation for Spender's big moment. This big moments includes the final revelation how Bud does what he can to make sure they are winning was okay, even if his entire football background history did not do too much for me either. Here and there, the film takes itself too seriously. It is at its best when it is just going for pointless fun. Also in this final battle, Spencer goes up against German actor Raimund "Seewolf" Harmstorf. Probably not a coincidence they went with a German actor there and even the latter's boss is played by a German actor, even if that one is lesser known. Here you can see again that Spencer's movies were big hits in Germany. Obviously, they could not make these Germans be actual German antagonists because maybe then the German audiences would not have liked it that much, so they just turned them into American soldiers. In America, Pedersoli wasn't/isn't famous anyway. Telling enough that this film's English Wikipedia plot summary is one line while the German is almost 20 lines. Another thing i quite liked about this film was the audio side. The sound effects here and there (with an ounce of "Flodder" here and there, for example when these paramedics make sure the injured players are taken away) were pretty funny and the music/soundtrack was nice too. It as Oliver Onions again, wasn't it. Spencer himself is singing even on one occasion and while he does not do it on a regular basis, it's also by far not the only time he has done so in one of his movies. Looking at how "good" his singing here was, they could have done without it. However, I love Spencer too much to say something negative here. I am 100% sure that I would not have liked this film as much as I did with another actor in the lead. That much is safe. He is still a cult icon and I hope he rests in peace now. I said a couple times that football plays a role here, also in the title of my review even, and it is true, but with that I am talking about Amercian Football and not soccer. This should be clear though as the soldiers are American as I mentioned before. Okay, that is all now. I am gglad I got to watch this movie tonight and I wish they would show these Spencer/Hill movies more frequently on German television nowadays. Oh yeah, Joe Bugner is mentioned here specifically because this was his first performance in a movie. I see he managed a decent career afterwards. I cannot say anything really positive or negative about him, not really aware. Overall, this is really typical Bud Spencer. Slightly violent, but eventually very harmless (even a guy who experiences an electric shock falls down in a funny manner) and also a bit of a feel-good movie. It's not a huge must-see, but I think you can check it out. Probably you can decide for yourself as I think it is really unlilely you want to watch this one and have never before come across Bud Spencer in anything else. I give it a thumbs-up. By the way, been a while since I watched a film that has literally zero female characters.
One interesting aspect about this film is the title. A bulldozer is a big machine, but for the German title they used the term for mosquito and I really wonder why because there sure is an irony to this term. They did not use a description that fits his size like the original does. This becomes especially significant when they also had to change the meaning of a dialogue sequence a bit when Bud is asked why he has such a nickname. And in the American English-language version, he has another nickname in fact, namely one from the world of boxing. I guess dialogue translators had to be creative here for sure. Oh well. This dialogue was also with one of the boys. As the film goes on, Bud is not just their coach, but also somewhat makes sure they are alright mentally and they all have some issues. Be it gambling, be it crime, be it melancholy, there is a lot going on with his team fur sure, also aside from the physical aspects. I must say this did not do too much for me unfortunately. It was an ounce of depth they were going for, but I could have done without it. Probably they just did not want the movie to be too short. Also the final football game was slightly on the underwhelming side, not because it was so unrealistic with all the injuries going on and differing quantities of players etc., but also it was all a bit messy in general, really more gimmicky and somewhat pointless, just a preparation for Spender's big moment. This big moments includes the final revelation how Bud does what he can to make sure they are winning was okay, even if his entire football background history did not do too much for me either. Here and there, the film takes itself too seriously. It is at its best when it is just going for pointless fun. Also in this final battle, Spencer goes up against German actor Raimund "Seewolf" Harmstorf. Probably not a coincidence they went with a German actor there and even the latter's boss is played by a German actor, even if that one is lesser known. Here you can see again that Spencer's movies were big hits in Germany. Obviously, they could not make these Germans be actual German antagonists because maybe then the German audiences would not have liked it that much, so they just turned them into American soldiers. In America, Pedersoli wasn't/isn't famous anyway. Telling enough that this film's English Wikipedia plot summary is one line while the German is almost 20 lines. Another thing i quite liked about this film was the audio side. The sound effects here and there (with an ounce of "Flodder" here and there, for example when these paramedics make sure the injured players are taken away) were pretty funny and the music/soundtrack was nice too. It as Oliver Onions again, wasn't it. Spencer himself is singing even on one occasion and while he does not do it on a regular basis, it's also by far not the only time he has done so in one of his movies. Looking at how "good" his singing here was, they could have done without it. However, I love Spencer too much to say something negative here. I am 100% sure that I would not have liked this film as much as I did with another actor in the lead. That much is safe. He is still a cult icon and I hope he rests in peace now. I said a couple times that football plays a role here, also in the title of my review even, and it is true, but with that I am talking about Amercian Football and not soccer. This should be clear though as the soldiers are American as I mentioned before. Okay, that is all now. I am gglad I got to watch this movie tonight and I wish they would show these Spencer/Hill movies more frequently on German television nowadays. Oh yeah, Joe Bugner is mentioned here specifically because this was his first performance in a movie. I see he managed a decent career afterwards. I cannot say anything really positive or negative about him, not really aware. Overall, this is really typical Bud Spencer. Slightly violent, but eventually very harmless (even a guy who experiences an electric shock falls down in a funny manner) and also a bit of a feel-good movie. It's not a huge must-see, but I think you can check it out. Probably you can decide for yourself as I think it is really unlilely you want to watch this one and have never before come across Bud Spencer in anything else. I give it a thumbs-up. By the way, been a while since I watched a film that has literally zero female characters.
Bulldozer back story
ronaldferrand12 May 2013
This is the non-fiction back story about the movie Bulldozer with Bud Spencer. I will attempt to ID rumor from fact . In 1977 a group of Italian Soccer and Rugby players formed an American style football sports team. I had heard it was formed by two former American GI's with sportsman drawn from the Milano and Bologna areas. They came to Tirrenia(IT) to play an exhibition game against the Darby Rangers at Camp Darby , a US Army installation close to Livorno ,Italy. Hammered by the experienced Darby Rangers the Italian team suffered many injuries but they would not give up.
In 1978 an Italian film crew came to Tirrenia to film the movie with Bud Spencer. I can't say that the writer's intent was to do a story about the above event but I think it is too close for coincidence. The football scenes were shot at a local sports coop in Tirrenia. Many extras were drawn from the local US military community with soldiers that had played in the 1977 game taking leave to allow them to appear. I was on the Darby Ranger team in 1977 but did not play in that game. I recognized many of the GIs in the movie. I played the medic in the locker room scene and I was one in real life also working with the volunteer ambulance Misericordia Livorno.
One day on the set when were shooting the football scenes one of the GI's had brought a Frisbee. We had Bud Spencer and many of the cast and crew throwing Frisbee. The director eventually pleaded with us to stop as we were slowing down his schedule. In the first take of the locker room scene Bud Spencer kicked the prop door off it's hinges!
It took me many years to find clips of this movie on YouTube. I still haven't seen the full movie.
In 1978 an Italian film crew came to Tirrenia to film the movie with Bud Spencer. I can't say that the writer's intent was to do a story about the above event but I think it is too close for coincidence. The football scenes were shot at a local sports coop in Tirrenia. Many extras were drawn from the local US military community with soldiers that had played in the 1977 game taking leave to allow them to appear. I was on the Darby Ranger team in 1977 but did not play in that game. I recognized many of the GIs in the movie. I played the medic in the locker room scene and I was one in real life also working with the volunteer ambulance Misericordia Livorno.
One day on the set when were shooting the football scenes one of the GI's had brought a Frisbee. We had Bud Spencer and many of the cast and crew throwing Frisbee. The director eventually pleaded with us to stop as we were slowing down his schedule. In the first take of the locker room scene Bud Spencer kicked the prop door off it's hinges!
It took me many years to find clips of this movie on YouTube. I still haven't seen the full movie.
Fantastic movie with Bud Spencer at his peak acting performance
murermarius31 December 2020
I think this movie is Bud Spencer's best. I've seen almost all he's been in. The fighting scene in the bar with the sugar on the omelette is probably his most iconic and best fighting acting ever.
It has that old-time feel. It may come of as a bit cheesy and strange for some people. But to me, the genuinity, humor, stereotyping, the natural environments, the use of music .. everything is great in this one!
As a humorous and sometime serious movie, it is highly recommended.
It has that old-time feel. It may come of as a bit cheesy and strange for some people. But to me, the genuinity, humor, stereotyping, the natural environments, the use of music .. everything is great in this one!
As a humorous and sometime serious movie, it is highly recommended.
Again the corpulent Bud Spencer as a coach against experimented American players
ma-cortes13 February 2011
This time Bud Spencer is a fisherman whose ship crashes with a submarine . While he attempts to make reforms on his boat Spencer competing an arm-wrestling (such as ¨Stallone's Over the top¨) contest with an US Army sergeant (Raimund Harmstorf) . Colonel Martin (Reinhard Koldehoff ) commandant of the HQ ¨Headquarter Camp Durban US Army ¨assigns the sergeant to form the American football team to compete Italians . Then the former player called ¨Bulldozer¨ takes in charge of the training . As Bud trains an Italian botcher team and it all climaxes a Rugby championship between American soldiers and Latinos players . Both of them dressed in white ¨The Rangers¨ and blue ¨the visitors¨. When Spencer goes into the action he turns the score , playing like a Bulldozer.
This amusing , engaging movie is crammed of fist-fights, overwhelming stunt-work and lots of humor. Bud Spencer is top notch as one army man confronting a group of American soldiers and as always he makes his own stunts with comic touches , as usual . The lighting-paced storyline slows down at times , but frantic fight's sequences make up for it . It's an amusing romp with brawls , including amusing bounds and leaps at a bakery . This is a nice entertaining juvenile for Bud Spencer fans , as he's delight . It packs action, fist-play, slapdash, humor with tongue-in-cheek and is quite bemusing . This release has some cool and several hilarious moments such as the continuous fights ; however the Terence Hill-Bud Spencer duo films are better . The film isn't always good , sometimes is fresh and diverting and on a couple of memorable occasions ,it's frankly delicious . The movie displays innumerable laughters , jokes and slapstick . In the picture appears usual secondaries from B Italian series seen in several genres as Spaghetti Western and Peplum as Nello Pazzafini , Fortunato Arena , Giovanni Cianfriglia ,Mike Morris, Roberto and Octaviano Dell'Acqua .Catching and commercial musical score by Guido and Mauricio De Angelis -Spaghetti Western's ordinaries- and composed by synthesizer, as usual . The motion picture written by Marcelo Fondato is middlingly directed by Michele Lupo . This is a passable entertaining juvenile that will appeal to Italian comedy buffs.
In the 70s and 80s Bud Spencer starred various movies without Terence Hill , as he made three kind of films : 1ª he performed pictures with a little boy as partner as ¨Banana Joe ¨ , ¨Aladino¨and ¨The Supersheriff¨ ; 2ª about cop named Flatfoot or Rizzo, also called Piedone, such as, ¨Flatfoot , Flatfoot in Hong Kong, Flatfoot in Egypt , Flatfoot in Africa¨, furthermore the ¨Extralargo¨ series 3ª about diverse characters as a medieval knight as ¨Soldier of fortune¨ , a swindler as ¨Mr Charleston¨ or a fisherman , ex-player as ¨Bulldozer¨. Rating : Average only for Bud Spencer fans .
This amusing , engaging movie is crammed of fist-fights, overwhelming stunt-work and lots of humor. Bud Spencer is top notch as one army man confronting a group of American soldiers and as always he makes his own stunts with comic touches , as usual . The lighting-paced storyline slows down at times , but frantic fight's sequences make up for it . It's an amusing romp with brawls , including amusing bounds and leaps at a bakery . This is a nice entertaining juvenile for Bud Spencer fans , as he's delight . It packs action, fist-play, slapdash, humor with tongue-in-cheek and is quite bemusing . This release has some cool and several hilarious moments such as the continuous fights ; however the Terence Hill-Bud Spencer duo films are better . The film isn't always good , sometimes is fresh and diverting and on a couple of memorable occasions ,it's frankly delicious . The movie displays innumerable laughters , jokes and slapstick . In the picture appears usual secondaries from B Italian series seen in several genres as Spaghetti Western and Peplum as Nello Pazzafini , Fortunato Arena , Giovanni Cianfriglia ,Mike Morris, Roberto and Octaviano Dell'Acqua .Catching and commercial musical score by Guido and Mauricio De Angelis -Spaghetti Western's ordinaries- and composed by synthesizer, as usual . The motion picture written by Marcelo Fondato is middlingly directed by Michele Lupo . This is a passable entertaining juvenile that will appeal to Italian comedy buffs.
In the 70s and 80s Bud Spencer starred various movies without Terence Hill , as he made three kind of films : 1ª he performed pictures with a little boy as partner as ¨Banana Joe ¨ , ¨Aladino¨and ¨The Supersheriff¨ ; 2ª about cop named Flatfoot or Rizzo, also called Piedone, such as, ¨Flatfoot , Flatfoot in Hong Kong, Flatfoot in Egypt , Flatfoot in Africa¨, furthermore the ¨Extralargo¨ series 3ª about diverse characters as a medieval knight as ¨Soldier of fortune¨ , a swindler as ¨Mr Charleston¨ or a fisherman , ex-player as ¨Bulldozer¨. Rating : Average only for Bud Spencer fans .
Does the job
Leofwine_draca7 February 2019
Warning: Spoilers
THEY CALLED HIM BULLDOZER is a comedy vehicle for the hulking Bud Spencer, here appearing without his usual partner in mischief Terence Hill. He plays a typically larger-than-life character, down on his luck after an unusual run-in with a submarine early on in the proceedings. A group of footballers need a new coach and after various misadventures Spencer agrees to help them out. The film has plenty of the slapdash action and silliness that Spencer fans have come to expect; it's not one of his best, but it does the job.
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