Directed by Tonino Ricci in 1973 (not found on Spout!)
One of Sicily’s most highly regarded businessmen turns out to be the region’s biggest criminal and there are few that would stand against him. Giancarlo Prete arrives as the new commissioner and is known for his integrity and ability to get things done! When the inevitable clash that follows leads to the death of a young child and the violent rape of Prete’s lover, everybody soon learns how big the family really is! As is common for Italian crime movies made in the early to mid 1970’s (the golden age of the genre), there is a lot more happening than just shotgun fights and car chases, though there’s plenty of that! This movie, and many others like it, is a violent poem about corruption, loyalty, morality, honor and so much more. Along with the under-appreciated 1971 giallo Cross Current, this is probably Ricci’s most accomplished film. Beautiful Italian locals act as scenic backdrops to this stylish tale of blood and retribution that unfolds on the screen. Mixing Bruno Nicolai’s almost troublingly urgent music into moments of suspense and/or action make this even more recommendable!