The Sicilian Checkmate

1972 ""

The Sicilian Checkmate

6.8 | 1h30m | en | Crime

Taking place almost entirely during a murder trial, the film details in significant detail the deep roots sunk by organised crime into the business and political life of Sicily.

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6.8 | 1h30m | en | Crime | More Info

Released: February. 03,1972 | Released Producted By: , Country: Budget: 0 Revenue: 0 Official Website:

Synopsis

Taking place almost entirely during a murder trial, the film details in significant detail the deep roots sunk by organised crime into the business and political life of Sicily.

Stream Online

The movie is currently not available onine

Cast

Enrico Maria Salerno , Gastone Moschin , Riccardo Cucciolla

Director

Luciano Puccini

Producted By

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Trailers & Images

Cast

Enrico Maria Salerno

as Prosecutor

The Big Fox Dog Lay Afternoon Late Night Trains Gambling City No, the Case Is Happily Resolved The Police Serve the Citizens? Execution Squad The Sicilian Checkmate The Assassination of Trotsky

Gastone Moschin

as Colonnesi, defense attorney

The Conformist My Friends Act III My Friends Act II Lion of the Desert My Friends Mr. Superinvisible The Sicilian Checkmate The Weekend Murders Caliber 9

Riccardo Cucciolla

as Professor Salemi

Rabid Dogs No, the Case Is Happily Resolved The Sicilian Checkmate Africa Uncensored Sacco & Vanzetti One on Top of the Other Secret Africa Bandits in Rome Grand Slam

Reviews

John Seal This is a very hard film to review fairly in its currently available format--an English-dubbed videotape from Finland. La Violenza: Quinto Potere (titled The Sicilian Checkmate on the tape) is an extremely talky courtroom drama steeped in Italian politics of the period, and therefore is pretty hard going for an Anglophone audience unfamiliar (as am I) with the topic. Taking place almost entirely during a murder trial, the film details in significant detail the deep roots sunk by organised crime in the business and political life of Sicily. There are a few flashbacks which include what little 'action' the film includes, but the vast majority of the film is a lengthy indictment of mafia corruption.IMDb indicates Sicilian Checkmate was shot in a 2.35:1 ratio, but the tape is in 1.66:1--not that it actually makes any difference, as the film basically takes place in a single room. Of some note is Ennio Morricone's atypically atonal and spare score, which adds a threatening quality to the proceedings. All in all, this is a tough film to like--but would seem to be a perfect candidate for DVD restoration by the good folks at No Shame. I'd also love to know if this film ever actually had a cinema release in English-speaking territories--and who authorised the expense of recording the English language dub!