Blu-ray Evaluation – Stateline Motel (1973)

      **Stateline Motel, 1973**

      **Directed by Maurizio Lucidi**

      **Starring Eli Wallach, Ursula Andress, Fabio Testi, Barbara Bach, Howard Ross, and Massimo Girotti**

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      An armed robber on the lam finds refuge in a secluded motel near the US border, but his plans are disrupted by the owner's stunning wife.

      At first glance, one might mistake Maurizio Lucidi’s 1973 film *Stateline Motel* (also known as *Last Chance for a Born Loser* and *Motel of Fear*) for a typical Euro-crime thriller, given its storyline of a jewel heist gone wrong, criminals hiding and betraying one another, automotive pursuits in vast urban settings, and a roster of recognizable international actors earning their salaries outside the Hollywood system. However, this Euro-crime thriller is not set or filmed in Europe, and while it features crime elements, it diverges from the exploitation-action conventions into character-centric melodrama.

      After spending six months in a Canadian prison for car theft, American Floyd Gambino (Fabio Testi) is released and promptly heads to his next heist with his accomplice Joe (Eli Wallach). During a jewelry store robbery, Floyd hesitates to shoot when an unsuspecting customer enters, leading the impulsive Joe to shoot the innocent bystander as he flees, and the two manage to escape with whatever jewels Joe could grab from the safe before the interruption.

      They agree to split up and meet near the Canadian/US border, with Floyd taking the jewels in his car. However, after losing control in the snow, he finds himself at a remote motel run by Fred (Massimo Girotti) and his alluring wife Michelle (Ursula Andress), who fortuitously have an on-site mechanic named Jacques (Howard Ross). Unfortunately, Jacques is unable to fix the car in time for the two robbers to reunite, leading Joe to grow suspicious. When news of the robbery spreads, Michelle, who has developed feelings for Floyd, soon realizes his identity. Tragically, Jacques is also aware, and as local police begin to question, and with Joe closing in to discover where his stolen goods are, Floyd's situation becomes increasingly perilous in the frigid Canadian motel.

      Despite the comical dubbing typical of such films, *Stateline Motel* is a surprisingly astute and engaging crime thriller that keeps the viewer guessing until the very end. Beginning with Floyd's release from prison and transitioning directly into the heist followed by an exhilarating car chase, the first twenty minutes effectively establish the narrative, providing insight into the characters—Eli Wallach doesn’t need to utter a word for viewers to grasp everything about Joe—and then it shifts to the motel, where genuine chemistry develops between Fabio Testi and Ursula Andress, making their time together captivating.

      Michelle may not be what she seems, as she has intriguing stories about her past, and when Fred hints at this later, it shifts the expected trajectory of the plot. This surprises both Floyd and the audience, who are left unsure of whom to trust.

      In true Italian cinematic fashion, *Stateline Motel* employs several red herrings to mislead us. Floyd is caught between fearing Joe and wanting to be with Michelle, while Michelle's questionable connection to Jacques, her inquisitive niece Emily (Barbara Bach) engaged to a local cop, and the arrival of a tour group right as Joe comes to collect add layers of complexity. While not previously mentioned, it's likely that Quentin Tarantino has seen this film.

      However, unlike Tarantino's works, *Stateline Motel* does not indulge excessively in violence, featuring only a few splatters of vividly colored blood when necessary. The chemistry between Testi and Andress culminates in a charged sex scene that feels like a fitting resolution to their interaction, especially since they became a couple during filming; yet, Wallach's Joe ultimately dominates the film, despite his absence for significant portions. Although he appears to be an ordinary middle-aged shopkeeper, Joe's gruff yet menacing presence significantly influences Floyd's actions, creating ambiguity about whom to support. Floyd is the more likable of the two, but Joe is solely focused on his goal and disinterested in romantic entanglements. While one may wish to root for Michelle, the intricate plot twists complicate that possibility, even with Ursula Andress's efforts to charm the audience.

      *Stateline Motel* is not without its flaws—it runs roughly ten minutes too long, and the pacing sagging when Joe and the tour group arrive at the motel—but Shameless Screen Entertainment’s decision to acquire and release it on Blu-ray instead of recycling older titles reflects their confidence in it, a confidence that is well deserved, as *Stateline Motel* stands as a solid addition to the Euro-crime genre, despite not being set in Europe.

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