简介：Controversialsinger-songwriterFrancoCalifanotakeshistough,nononsensepersonatothebigscreeninoneofhisfewstarringrolesasthemanwiththeGardenia,arestaurantownerwhoisnotafraidtostanduptothemob.It'slittlewonderthateverywomaninthefilmswoonsandsighsatthesightofhimandallmen,eventhebaddies,areawestruckathisappearance.Notthattheyshowhimconstantrespecto,ifthatwerethecasewewouldn'thavemuchofapicture. AlthoughCalifanodoesnotgettosinganyofhissongsallthewaythroughduringthepicture,hedidprovidethemusicalscorewhichborrowsequallyfromShaftandSpagettiwesterns.HeprobablyalsohadahandinwritingthetunesthebluesladycroonsathisMayfairrestaurant.TwoAmericangangstertypes,MartinBalsamandRobertWebber(herenamedSalluzzoandCaruso)teamuptoforceGardeniatopaythemashareofhisincome,butthemightyGrefuses. Alongwithacircleoffriends(includingbigbonedFracoDiogene)themanwiththegardeniainhislapeltakesrevengewhentheyblowuphiskitchen(andhisfavoritecook).HeoverhearsSalluzzo'splanstorobabankandgoestherefirst.HewinstherighttoremainintownbybeatingSalluzzoatahighstakegameofpoolandeventhoughSalluzzo'smistressMiriam(theimpressiveLiciniaLentini)throwsherselfinwiththebargain,Gardeniarefuses.AndallthatafterhisliveinloverRegina(hottamaleEleonoraVallone)leaveshim. Butreally,SalluzzoneverhadachanceagainstGardenia,notevenonhisownturf,fortheG-mannevermissesasinglehole(hereallyshouldhavehadhisownthemetunethatsummedupallhisbesttraits).Therearesomeviolentscenesinthepicture,butwheneverthereisbloodonanyone'sfaces,itisofthebrightredHammerhorror/SpagettiwesterntypeandthereisusuallyajokeoraJamesBondquiptolightenthesituationimmediatelyafterward.GardeniahimselflikestorattleofChineseproverbsallovertheplaceandhisclosestconfidentisawhitepussycat.Foreventheanimalsadorethatman.Afterall,heisGardenia.…