Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Ugo Tognazzi | ... | Mariano Bonifazi | |
Vittorio Gassman | ... | Lorenzo Santenocito | |
Ely Galleani | ... | Silvana Lazzorini | |
Yvonne Furneaux | ... | Lavinia Santenocito | |
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Michele Cimarosa | ... | Maresciallo Casciatelli |
Renato Baldini | ... | Ragionier Cerioni | |
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Pietro Tordi | ... | Professor Rivaroli |
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Maria Teresa Albani | ... | Silvana's mother (as M. Teresa Albani) |
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Checco Durante | ... | Archivista Pironti |
Simonetta Stefanelli | ... | 'Giugi' Santenocito | |
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Edda Ferronao | ... | Cameriera di Santenocito |
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Enrico Ragusa | ... | Riziero Santenocito |
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Piero Nuti | ... | Santenocito's Lawyer |
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Franco Angrisano | ... | Giudice Colombo (as Franco Angrisani) |
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Gianfilippo Carcano | ... | Silvana's Father (as G. Filippo Carcano) |
An obscure Italian magistrate suspects that a well-known industrialist commited murder, and decides to investigate him, and bring him to court, whatever it takes. But - will the magistrate have it in him to go against impossible odds, in the name of the Italian people he represents? Written by Artemis-9
Dino Risi said, when his film was first shown (1971): «This is more or less the picture of Italy these days.»
When I saw this film (1975), I wondered why it had taken four years for such a well done film (action, dialogue, script, realistic acting, thrilling sequences) to be shown in France, and other Western European countries. Weren't all democracies, full of law and order, wishing to back magistrates like the one portrayed in the movie? He was not particularly bright, or courageous, or whatever is needed to be a symbol. No, he was a simple man, invested of some authority, wishing to do the job for what he was paid for: smelling a dead rat when there was one, hidden under a luxurious carpet.
Remembering this film now (2003), when the European politics, and Italian relations between government and magistrates is what it is, makes me wonder why no one is releasing this master piece in DVD and VHS?!... It should be mandatory viewing in all Law Schools.