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IMDbPro

The Designated Victim

Original title: La vittima designata
  • 19711971
  • RR
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
743
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
48,161
2,401
Katia Christine and Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
JUST HOW PERFECT IS YOUR PLAN?

Shameless is a DVD label that is all about the fans and with their latest release of the rarely-seen Designated Victim their efforts have never been more focused on trying to deliver intriguing product that will please fans of this label of film discovery.

A true high point in 70s Italian thriller cinema, this inspired remake of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train from director Maurizio Lucidi is able to push the concept of the original movie into something far more unbearably tense and deliciously twisted.

The Designated Victim (cert. 18) is released uncut in a brand new exclusive rebuild edit as a 'Fan Edition' DVD (£12.99) by Shameless Screen Entertainment. The film will be presented remastered in 2.35:1 with optional English and Italian audio tracks and English subtitles. Also included on the disc will be a Shameless Fact Track by Stefan Novak, deleted scenes, Collector's Art Gallery, original theatrical trailer and a Shameless original trailer gallery.
Play trailer1:12
2 Videos
76 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller
A disillusioned advertising executive in an unhappy marriage is trapped by a sociopathic Count in a bizarre plot to kill each other's relatives.A disillusioned advertising executive in an unhappy marriage is trapped by a sociopathic Count in a bizarre plot to kill each other's relatives.A disillusioned advertising executive in an unhappy marriage is trapped by a sociopathic Count in a bizarre plot to kill each other's relatives.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
743
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
48,161
2,401
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Maurizio Lucidi
    • Writers
      • Fulvio Gicca Palli(screenplay)
      • Augusto Caminito(story)
      • Aldo Lado(story)
    • Stars
      • Tomas Milian
      • Pierre Clémenti
      • Katia Christine
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Maurizio Lucidi
    • Writers
      • Fulvio Gicca Palli(screenplay)
      • Augusto Caminito(story)
      • Aldo Lado(story)
    • Stars
      • Tomas Milian
      • Pierre Clémenti
      • Katia Christine
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 27Critic reviews

    Videos2

    Designated Victim
    Trailer 1:12
    Designated Victim
    Designated Victim Trailer HD
    Trailer 1:05
    Designated Victim Trailer HD

    Photos76

    Katia Christine and Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
    The Designated Victim (1971)
    Pierre Clémenti and Cathy Marchand in The Designated Victim (1971)
    Katia Christine and Cathy Marchand in The Designated Victim (1971)
    The Designated Victim (1971)
    Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
    Katia Christine and Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
    Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
    Tomas Milian in The Designated Victim (1971)
    The Designated Victim (1971)
    The Designated Victim (1971)
    The Designated Victim (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Tomas Milian
    Tomas Milian
    • Stefano Augenti
    Pierre Clémenti
    Pierre Clémenti
    • Count Matteo Tiepolo
    Katia Christine
    Katia Christine
    • Fabienne Béranger
    Luigi Casellato
    • Commissario Finzi
    Marisa Bartoli
    • Luisa Augenti
    Ottavio Alessi
    • Balsamo
    Alessandra Cardini
    • Christina Müller
    • (as Sandra Cardini)
    Enzo Tarascio
    • Del Bosco
    Carla Mancini
    Carla Mancini
    Bruno Boschetti
    • Augenti's Butler
    Giuseppe Alotta
    • Man in handcuffs
    • (uncredited)
    Renée Lorena
    • German Stranded at the Airport
    • (uncredited)
    Maurizio Lucidi
    • Deputy Commissioner
    • (uncredited)
    Cathy Marchand
    • Woman in black
    • (uncredited)
    Vittorio Pinelli
    • Airport Pay Park Attendant
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Maurizio Lucidi
    • Writers
      • Fulvio Gicca Palli(screenplay)
      • Augusto Caminito(story)
      • Aldo Lado(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Tomas Milian sings the lead vocals for the song "My shadow in the dark", which the band New Trolls wrote for the movie.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Madness (1980)
    • Soundtracks
      My Shadow in the Dark
      Sung by Tomas Milian

      Music by Luis Bacalov (uncredited)

      Lyrics adapted from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" by Sergio Bardotti (uncredited)

    User reviews13

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Tense/suspense/mystery abounds in this Italian Giallo/thriller from Hitchcock wake
    This ¨Designated Victim¨(1971) results to be a good Hitch style film about an advert executive who becomes involved with a psychopath in exchange for killing . It deals with Stefano (Tomas Milian) in Venice where meets a stranger Count , Matteo Tiepolo (Pierre Clémenti) , who offers a diabolic scheme to exchange murders . The latter's a wealthy Count who leads to an ominous plan and a nail-biting race against time where both will do each other a murderous favor to free them from the people who ail them . Along the way , a cunning Police Inspector (Luigi Casellato) starts investigating the bizarre deeds . Just how perfect is your plan? . It was the perfect crime... but who was the victim? .How two complete strangers can get away with murder...a theory that he plans to implement . Strangers who kill for each other! . A perfect plan - a horrific result!

    This rarely watched Giallo turns out to be a passable thriller in which a chance meeting leading to the edge of sanity , resulting in unpredictable consequences with thrilling events , deliciously twisted happenings and brief touches of erotism . Thriller with baroque giallo overtones and surprising intrigue being well proceeded here and there , along with an unbearably tension in charge of the two adequate protagonists . It is a real high point in 70s Italian Giallo/Poliziesco cinema that is wrongly underrated , obscure , extremely unknown and a hidden psychological gem . Main and support cast are pretty well . Tomas Milian is nice as an advertising executive trapped in an unhappy marriage , as he needs to sort out his troublesome wife who is seriously spoiling his future schemes , and the strange Pierre Clementi is fine as a resourceful sociopathic who proposes him an amazing plan , while the gorgeous Katia Christine provides the essential erotic touches and beauty enough . A decent mystery/thriller with a lot of twists , turns and combining the elements of intrigue with drama and action . Suspenseful and interesting screenplay inspired by Patricia Highsmith novel , ¨Strangers on a train¨ , and co-scripted by Fulvio Gicca Palli , Augusto Caminito , Aldo Lado and Mauricio Luzidi himself , all of them regular writers/directors of Eurotrash movies. There's also a motley group of Italian actors usual in the typical genres of the Sixties and Seventies such as : Luigi Casellato as Commissario Finzi , Carla Mancini and cameo by Maurizio Lucidi himself as a Deputy Commissioner.

    La vittima designata (1971) contains atmospheric and moving musical score by Luis Enrique Bacalov in Ennio Morricone style , he subsequently won Academy Award for ¨The Postman and Pablo Neruda¨ . Adding a song : My Shadow in the Dark sung by Tomas Milian and Concerto Grosso No. 1 (allegro - adagio - cadenza) , Grand Concert for New Trolls written by Luis Bacalov with the participation of New Trolls . Evocative and adequate cinematography by Aldo Tonti shot in several locations , especially at a mist-wreathed Venice , such as : Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Veneto, Lainate, Milan, Lombardia, Moltrasio, Como, Lombardia, Venice, Veneto, Italy . The motion picture was professionally directed by Maurizio Lucidi , though it has some flaws , and gaps , but being an acceptable thriller flick . This inspired remake of Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train well made by director Maurizio Lucidi is able to carry out the concept of the original movie into something far more including nudism , violence and grisly killings . Maurizio Lucidi was born in 1932 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy and died in 2005 , Rome . He was a director , writer and editor , known for ¨The Man from the Organization or The sicilian cross or Los ejecutores¨ (1976) and he made more thrillers as ¨The last chance¨ with Elli Wallach , Fabio Testi and Ursula Andress . And he directed three Spaghetti Westerns as ¨Halleluja for Django¨(1967) with Hunt Powers , ¨Saddle tramps¨ with Bud Spencer and ¨Pecos¨ with Robert Woods . And furthermore , a wartime movie titled Probabilità zero (1969) and this La víttima designata (1971) at his best , among others . Rating : 6/10. Acceptable and passable.
    helpful•1
    0
    • ma-cortes
    • Dec 7, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1971 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Der Todesengel
    • Filming locations
      • Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, Venice, Veneto, Italy
    • Production company
      • Produzioni Cinematografiche Europee (P.C.E.)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 45 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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