La violenza: Quinto potere (1972)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Florestano Vancini

Writers:

Giuseppe Fava (play)
Massimo Felisatti (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 March 1976 (Hungary)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Beautiful Woman | Based On Play

Cast

Enrico Maria Salerno	...	Prosecutor
Gastone Moschin	...	Colonnesi, defense attorney
Riccardo Cucciolla	...	Professor Salemi
Mario Adorf	...	Amedeo Barrese
Ciccio Ingrassia	...	Ferdinando Giacalone
Aldo Giuffrè	...	Giuseppe Salemi
Michele Abruzzo	...	Zaccaria
Ferruccio De Ceresa	...	Senator
Turi Ferro	...	Judge Nicola Altofascio
Mariangela Melato	...	Rosaria Licata
Guido Leontini	...	Vacirca
Elio Zamuto	...	Verzi
Mico Cundari
Julien Guiomar	...	Commissario Golino
Georges Wilson	...	Crupi

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Movie Connections:

Edited into Come inguaiammo il cinema italiano - La vera storia di Franco e Ciccio (2004)

Serious courtroom drama short on thrills

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This is a very hard film to review fairly in its currently available format--an English-dubbed videotape from Finland. La Violenza: Quinto Potere (titled The Sicilian Checkmate on the tape) is an extremely talky courtroom drama steeped in Italian politics of the period, and therefore is pretty hard going for an Anglophone audience unfamiliar (as am I) with the topic. Taking place almost entirely during a murder trial, the film details in significant detail the deep roots sunk by organised crime in the business and political life of Sicily. There are a few flashbacks which include what little 'action' the film includes, but the vast majority of the film is a lengthy indictment of mafia corruption.

IMDb indicates Sicilian Checkmate was shot in a 2.35:1 ratio, but the tape is in 1.66:1--not that it actually makes any difference, as the film basically takes place in a single room. Of some note is Ennio Morricone's atypically atonal and spare score, which adds a threatening quality to the proceedings. All in all, this is a tough film to like--but would seem to be a perfect candidate for DVD restoration by the good folks at No Shame. I'd also love to know if this film ever actually had a cinema release in English-speaking territories--and who authorised the expense of recording the English language dub!