The Sicilian Checkmate

1972 film

1972 (1972)

LanguageItalian

The Sicilian Checkmate (Italian: La violenza: quinto potere) is a 1972 Italian crime-drama film directed by Florestano Vancini.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Plot

The construction of a dam in Sicily triggers unspeakable interests and appetites that find immediate repercussions in a feud between two mafia gangs who support two different power groups, one headed by the manufacturer Barresi, who aspires to secure the contract for the works, the other to the engineer Crupi, a wealthy landowner, who would lose his citrus groves following the completion of the project. After a long series of crimes of which not only some members of the rival gangs are the victims, but also many innocent ones, we arrive at the trial that sees the accused representatives of major and minor prominent members of the two mafia organizations. Of the only two defendants determined to confess, one commits suicide in prison, the other is passed off as insane. Thus, only two minor figures pay for all the others, who instead are acquitted.

Cast

Enrico Maria Salerno: Prosecutor
Gastone Moschin: Colonnesi, defense attorney
Riccardo Cucciolla: professor Salemi
Mario Adorf: Amedeo Barrese
Turi Ferro: Judge Nicola Altofascio
Mariangela Melato: Rosaria Licato
Julien Guiomar: Commissioner Golino
Georges Wilson: Crupi
Ciccio Ingrassia: Ferdinando Giacalone
Aldo Giuffrè: Giuseppe Salemi
Ferruccio De Ceresa: Senator
Michele Abruzzo: Zaccaria
Jeannie Elias: Secretary of Walter
Elio Zamuto: Verzi
Guido Celano

References

^ Giacomo Gambetti (2000). Florestano Vancini. Gremese Editore, 2000. ISBN 8884400538.
^ Paolo Micalizzi. Florestano Vancini: fra cinema e televisione. Longo Angelo, 2002. ISBN 8880633325.
^ Roberto Chiti; Roberto Poppi; Enrico Lancia (1991). Dizionario del cinema italiano: I film. Gremese, 1991. ISBN 8876059695.