The Sicilian (1987)

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Mario Puzo (novel)
Steve Shagan (writer)

Release Date:

23 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Only one man ever dared to stand alone.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Sicilian | Landed Gentry | Mafia Don | Robin Hood Plot

Cast

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

Runtime:

Argentina:116 min | France:146 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

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

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Sutera, Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy

Company:

Gladden Entertainment

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.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Guiliano never hijacked any troop trains or crucified any priests.

Quotes:

Salvatore Giuliano: You're an American, aren't you?
Camilla, Duchess of Crotone: Yes, and like every other Sicilian you want to go to America and start a pizzaria in Jersey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

Not such a bad movie

This is a very well made movie, especially as it concerns scenery and camera angles. However, the tempo of the movie is a little slow and after the initial fifteen minutes or so its seems to emphasize a lot on character development rather then unraveling a plot quickly to keep you interested. This movie gave me the impression that it was intended for a more subdued audience. Eventually it picks up here and there with some violent retribution from those that have betrayed Giuliano.

I can't emphasis enough about the scenery since that seemed to compensate for the poor dialogue a lot of the time. John Turturro was great in this movie as well as Chris Lambert. The character of Don Masino carried this movie as your classic stolid and shrewed mafia boss and Giuliano, whom Masino admires, poses a threat to his power.