An Interpol agent in Los Angeles (Franco Columbu) comes out of retirement to help rid his hometown of violent drug dealers in Sardinia.

"Baretta's Island" (1993) is a low-budget crime thriller set mostly on an island off the western coast of Italy starring Franco Columbu. He was Schwarzeneggar's best friend and sometimes showed up in his movies in bit parts, such as the Pictish scout near the beginning of "Conan the Barbarian" (1982). Arnold has a cameo here in the dreadfully boring opening weight-lifting sequence. Franco was short at 5'5", but he's likable as the protagonist, although he's a lousy actor.

One of the main reasons to see this flick, aside from the nice island locations, is Elizabeth Kaitan as Linda. She was beautiful and winsome during her 'B' movie career from approximately 1983-1997; and notable in films like "Necromancer" (1988) and "Nightwish" (1989). In this one, she usually appears in baggy jean shorts or tight jeans, although she has a decent sequence in a yellow bikini and, at the very end, a tame top nude scene while swimming with the protagonist.

The movie runs about 1 hour, 30 minutes, and was shot mainly in Ollolai, Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy (Franco's hometown, as a well as other areas of Sardinia, not to mention Las Vegas, Nevada, and Los Angeles.

GRADE: D+

Franco Armando Beretta (Franco Columbu) is a retired Interpol officer who just so happens to train with Arnold Schwarzenegger, just like the real life Franco. The Sardinian Strongman had been in a few movies before - Stay Hungry, Conan the Barbarian, The Terminator, Big Top Pee-Wee - but now he was producing, writing and even directing a series of movies that includes Desperate Crimes, Taken Alive, Doublecross On Costas's Island and Ancient Warriors.

Franco takes his shirt off every time he gets the chance to and he lives Sardinia, showing off the beach, the festivals, the folk music and so much more. What more could you ask from a former prize fighter turned Interpol agent and now a wine maker? How about a message movie? Franco starts the movie off with this quote: "Sardinia is my homeland. This beautiful island has always been a refuge for me; untouched by the destructive effects of greed and drugs. Several years ago I was disheartened to find that drugs had infiltrated my precious Island, bringing with them winds of evil that have poisoned even the children of the land. This film is dedicated to the fight against drugs, and to those who have worked to stop the plague of drugs in every country. These are the true heroes of our time and I salute each one of them with gratitude and respect."

Truth be told, then I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this 1993 action movie titled "Beretta's Island". And the only reason why I did pick it up, actually, was because the movie had Arnold Schwarzenegger on the cast list.

Writers Franco Columbu and Donna Jeffries didn't exactly impress with the storyline concocted for this 1993 action movie. Sure, it wasn't among the worst of movies I have suffered through, but it was by no means a noteworthy cinematic experience.

The acting performances in the movie were fair enough, though somewhat rigid from some of the performers, namely the leading actor Franco Columbu. Needless to say that I was disappointed with the small time on the screen that Arnold Schwarzenegger had in the movie, but I can't say that I was surprised.

"Beretta's Island" left absolutely zero impression on me, and the movie will fade into the mists of oblivion just as quietly as it came in under the radar. In fact, I didn't even know about the movie's existence before stumbling upon it by random chance here in 2022.

My rating of director Michael Preece's "Beretta's Island" lands on a three out of ten stars.