The Salamander

The Salamander is a 1981 thriller film directed by Peter Zinner in his directorial debut. The film is based on a 1973 novel with the same name by Morris West. Plot Policeman Dante Matucci investigates a series of murders involving people in prominent positions. Left behind at each murder scene is a drawing of a salamander. As the body count grows he sees a pattern that might point to a neo-fascist conspiracy to take over the Italian government. Cast Franco Nero as Carabinieri Colonel Dante Matucci Anthony Quinn as Bruno Manzini Martin Balsam as Captain Steffanelli Sybil Danning as Lili Anders Christopher Lee as Prince Baldasar, the Director of Counterintelligence Cleavon Little as Major Carl Malinowski, USMC Paul L. Smith as The Surgeon John Steiner as Captain Roditi Claudia Cardinale as Elena Leporello Eli Wallach as General Leporello Renzo Palmer as Carabinieri Major Giorgione Anita Strindberg as Princess Faubiani Marino Masé as Captain Rigoli Jacques Herlin as Woodpecker Fortunato Arena as General Pantaleone John Stacy as Concierge Gitte Lee as Princess Baldasar Nello Pazzafini as Manzini's Bodyguard References