Property Is No Longer a Theft (1973)

A bank cashier, who's allergic to banknotes, quits his job after an armed robbery. He decides to start a new life, as a thief. He starts by targeting a popular former client, a butcher. But being a neurotic Marxist has its drawbacks.

Director:

Elio Petri

Writers:

Elio Petri (story and screenplay), Ugo Pirro (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Ugo Tognazzi, Flavio Bucci, Daria Nicolodi

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ugo Tognazzi	...	Macellaio
Flavio Bucci	...	Total
Daria Nicolodi	...	Anita
Mario Scaccia	...	Alessandro 'Albertone' Marzo
Orazio Orlando	...	Brigadiere Pirelli
Julien Guiomar	...	Direttore Banca
Cecilia Polizzi	...	Mafalda
Jacques Herlin	...	Impiegato Banca
Ada Pometti	...	Domestica
Pierluigi D'Orazio	...	Complice Albertone
Luigi Antonio Guerra	...	Protestante (as Luigi Guerra)
Gino Milli	...	Zaganè
Gigi Proietti	...	Paco (as Luigi Proietti)
Salvo Randone	...	Padre di Total

Storyline

Total, a young bank cashier, has been wondering for some time if his life, with its grey, dismal prospect, is worth living. He is aware of the illicit careers and rise to riches of many of his clients. He decide to start a new life : new clothes, new cars, new women. His "new look" begins discreetly, a few small robberies in supermarkets, progressing to more important fraud.

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Plot Keywords:

italy | years of lead | flushing money down a toilet | allergic reaction | robbery | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last part of the "Trilogy of Neurosis" also including Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion (1970) and Lulu the Tool (1971).

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Connections

References Tout Va Bien (1972)

User Reviews

Major discovery!

Absolutely fabulous film from director, Elio Petri, this is Italian crime without a car chase or punch up (well almost). More than a hint of the politics in the title and this is such a well told tale of corruption and theft. Or to put it another way, the rich person's crimes versus those of the poor. What is worse creaming off the cash on a building project or stealing someone's jewellery? When I first heard the film was political and comedic, I was very wary but how well this is done and the comic moments are funny and are not slapstick silliness. All the performances are great including a wonderful one from Daria Nicolodi (she of many early Argento movies) as she hobble about in heels and hot pants. The main storyline follows a humble young bank cashier who takes offence at the crimes of the local butcher (who has fingers in many pies) and decides to try and teach him a lesson. I had never heard of this film before but am stunned at the quality of the film and can unreservedly recommend this for I sat smiling throughout, constantly being stimulated by the arguments around the notion of theft. Major discovery and now for the rest of the trilogy.

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

4 October 1973 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Property Is No Longer a Theft

Company Credits

Production Co:

Quasars Film Company, Labrador Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technospes)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1