Reviews

I have this movie recorded from TV and reading the comment by mgmax I was really perplexed about the fact of the wrongly numbered reels. I don't know if such a thing happened or not but anyway there is nothing baffling in the scene in which Buchanan presents himself to Mc Donald as a hairdresser after having seen her in a preceding scene. This is why he saw her but she didn't see him. I went to have a look to the movie and this is how it happens: when the Count and a friend of him see her going to the casino for the first time he sends his friend to make acquaintance with Jeanette. The friend receives a slap on his face. She touches the humpbacked and goes on her way. The two men then say: why! she's superstitious. So the Count goes after her and tells her to touch his hair if she wants very good luck at the casino. She never turns back and continues going toward the casino's entry door. He follows and goes on speaking, she never answers. Then she enters and closes the door right on his face. He turns back standing near the the door. She puts out an arm and touches the back of the head of the Count then closes the door again. As for the film I agree that Buchanan is not the right actor to interpret the character of the Count, the songs are mostly good but the story is a little cliché.

At the beginning of the movie a pharmacist receives an anonymous letter that threatens him of death. And the murder actually happens. Seems very simple but nothing is what it seems and the journey to the truth will be long and difficult. The book is excellent and the movie is at par with it and very faithful to the romance. Great direction. Incredible cast with Gabriele Ferzetti in his best interpretation together with the one in "C'era una volta il West" and Gianmaria Volonté simply beyond reach as always. Many other great actors. Yes I am an enthusiast 'cause there's not a word or a shot out of place in this movie and the plot is ingenious. Who is going to see this film for the first time will be taken away by the developments (the pace seems to be calm but looking in between the kinks you may realize that many things are going rapidly on). Trying to figure out what is the kernel of the happenings and the "reasons" for the murder is a very interesting exercise but it's highly unlikely for the spectator not to experience a big surprise at the end. In my opinion Elio Petri at his best (I mean at the same level of his other masterwork: La classe operaia va in Paradiso).