The Sicilian (1987)

Egocentric bandit Salvatore Guiliano fights the Church, the Mafia, and the landed gentry while leading a populist movement for Sicilian independence.

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Mario Puzo (novel), Steve Shagan,

Stars:

Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp, Joss Ackland

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Lambert	...	Salvatore Giuliano
Terence Stamp	...	Prince Borsa
Joss Ackland	...	Don Masino Croce
John Turturro	...	Pisciotta
Richard Bauer	...	Hector Adonis
Barbara Sukowa	...	Camilla, Duchess of Crotone
Giulia Boschi	...	Giovanna Ferra
Ray McAnally	...	Trezza
Barry Miller	...	Dr. Nattore
Andreas Katsulas	...	Passatempa
Michael Wincott	...	Cpl. Silvestro Canio
Derrick Branche	...	Terranova
Richard Venture	...	Cardinal of Palermo
Ramon Bieri	...	Quintana
Stanko Molnar	...	Silvio Ferra

Storyline

Giuliano robs from the rich conservative landowners to give to the poor, serf-like peasants, who in turn hail him as their savior. As his popularity grows, so does his ego, and he eventually thinks he is above the power of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce. The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest advisor Pissciota to assassinate him

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Plot Keywords:

mafia | mafia don | landed gentry | sicilian | communist party | 

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Taglines:

Only one man ever dared to stand alone.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

El siciliano

Filming Locations:

Sutera, Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy

Box Office

Gross:

$5,406,879 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gladden Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

146 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The novel is a spin-off of The Godfather (set during Michael's exile in Sicily), however all references to the Corleones are omitted from the film.

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Goofs

Guiliano never hijacked any troop trains or crucified any priests.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Don Masino Croce: [by Guiliano's grave] Why couldn't he... why wouldn't he come to me?
Hector Adonis: Why should he? He was his own father. He invented himself. You and I... now...
[he sobs]
Hector Adonis: ... He's gone.
Don Masino Croce: What next?... What next?
Hector Adonis: There is nothing next. There never is... here!

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Connections

Version of Salvatore Giuliano (1962)

User Reviews

The complete European-release version is extraordinary

The European-release version of "The Sicilian" is 31 minutes longer than the US version. Supposedly, the director was ordered to deliver a version under 2 hours, so he recut the film to render it incoherent with the expectation that Fox would have to release the complete film. Only, they went ahead and released the deliberately botched shorter cut. This may be apocryphal, but it would help explain the critical drubbing it got in this country. I was lucky enough to see the complete film in Paris and was mesmerized. Gore Vidal was denied credit for the screenplay, but the film has a literacy, intellectual depth and acidity that is pure Vidal; the character played by Terrance Stamp is essentially Vidal's stand-in. The only comparable film might be "The Godfather," but with an even stronger historic/political context. It is certainly the highpoint of Michael Cimino's career to date, and I'm one of those odd ducks that fervently admires "Heaven's Gate". If you can see this in Europe, or if it comes out over there on DVD and you have a region-appropriate DVD player, grab the opportunity to see it.