Salvatore Giuliano (1962)

The unclear and complicated twists between governal powers, independentist party and Mafia in the Sicily of the '40s culminate with the death of Salvatore Giuliano.

Director:

Francesco Rosi

Writers:

Francesco Rosi (screenplay), Suso Cecchi D'Amico (screenplay)

Stars:

Frank Wolff, Salvo Randone, Frederico Zardi

6 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Salvo Randone	...	President of Viterbo Assize Court
Frank Wolff	...	Gaspare Pisciotta

Storyline

In 1950, 28-year-old outlaw Salvatore Giuliano is found gunned down in a Sicilian courtyard. Little is as it seems. The film moves back and forth between the late 1940s, when Giuliano and other reprobates were recruited by separatist politicians to do their fighting, and the days leading up to and following Giuliano's death. After Sicily's self-rule is declared, will the outlaws be pardoned as promised? And why does Giuliano order his gang to fire on a peaceful May Day rally? Police, Carabinieri, and Mafia have their uses for him. There's a trial after his death: will the truth come out or does the code of silence help protect those in power?

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Plot Keywords:

shot in a bed | firefight | post war italy | sentence | judgment | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | History | Mystery

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film is part of the Criterion Collection, spine #228.

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Goofs

During the Portella della Ginestre sequence, a member of the Communist Party gives a speech. In reality the shooting in the massacre began before anyone had a chance to speak to deliberately stop the speech starting.

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Connections

Referenced in Taxi Driver (1976)

User Reviews

There is a problem with this film

There is a problem with this film. Bold, courageous and outspoken though it is, director Franco Rosi is somewhat held captive by his conflicting Communist Party and neorealist filmic leanings. Presented as a if a street reality he is caught between the style and the substance which is made far worse by the ambiguity of the central character, who we only see as a dead man. As a picture of post-war Sicily and its poverty stricken towns and labyrinthine streets it appears remarkable but as to who is doing what and for why much more confusing. I understand it was not just me who was confused, Giuliano himself appears to be a man of many faces and apart from often appearing to be a man of the people keen to wrestle his country from the hands of the Italian government, he went so far as to suggest it should become a part of the US. Rosi is therefore considerably conflicted here as with his background and beliefs, he is keen to bring a much more left orientated administration to the whole of Italy. Such is the result on film that we are presented with the main thrust of discontent and the evils of the State and judiciary and an implication that behind the scenes our hero had everyone's interest at heart. Bit sentimental you might say and a difficult watch.

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

1 March 1962 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Salvatore Giuliano

Filming Locations:

98 Via Serafino Mannone, Castelvetrano, Trapani, Sicily, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Galatea Film, Lux Film, Vides Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1