''The Sicilian Checkmate'' ( it, La violenza: quinto potere) is a 1972

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Florestano Vancini Florestano Vancini (24 August 1926 – 18 September 2008) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed over 20 films since 1960. His 1966 film '' Le stagioni del nostro amore'', starring Enrico Maria Salerno, was entered into ...

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 Enrico Maria Salerno (September 18, 1926 – February 28, 1994) was an Italian actor, voice actor and film director. He was also the voice of Clint Eastwood in the Italian version of Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy films, and the voice of Ch ...

: Prosecutor *

Gastone Moschin Gastone Moschin (8 June 1929 – 4 September 2017) was an Italian stage, television and film actor. Career Born in San Giovanni Lupatoto (Veneto), Moschin graduated from the Accademia Nazionale di Arte Drammatica Silvio D'Amico and then began ...

: Colonnesi, defense attorney *

Riccardo Cucciolla Riccardo Cucciolla (5 September 1924 – 17 September 1999) was an Italian actor and voice actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1953 and 1999. He won the Best Actor Award at the 1971 Cannes Film Festival for the film '' Sacco & Vanzetti' ...

: professor Salemi *

Mario Adorf Mario Adorf (; born 8 September 1930) is a German actor, considered to be one of the great veteran character actors of European cinema. Since 1954, he has played both leading and supporting roles in over 200 film and television productions, am ...

: Amedeo Barrese * Turi Ferro: Judge Nicola Altofascio *

Mariangela Melato Mariangela Melato (19 September 1941 – 11 January 2013) was an Italian cinema and theater actress. She began her stage career in the 1960s. Her first film role was in ''Thomas e gli indemoniati'' (1969), directed by Pupi Avati. She played in ma ...

: Rosaria Licato *

Julien Guiomar Julien Guiomar (3 May 1928 in Morlaix, Finistère, Brittany – 22 November 2010 in Agen, Lot-et-Garonne, Aquitaine), was a French film actor. The actor had retired to the Dordogne at Monpazier. The person who incarnated Colonel Vincent in " ...

: Commissioner Golino *

Georges Wilson Georges Wilson (16 October 1921 – 3 February 2010) was a French film and television actor. He was the father of French actor Lambert Wilson. Biography Wilson was born in Champigny-sur-Marne, Seine (now Val-de-Marne) as the illegitimat ...

: Crupi *

Ciccio Ingrassia Francesco Ingrassia (5 October 1922 – 28 April 2003) was an Italian actor, comedian and film director. He was born in Palermo, Sicily, and began his career in the 1950s, although his career only really took off in the 1960s. He starred in m ...

: Ferdinando Giacalone *

Aldo Giuffrè Aldo Giuffrè (10 April 1924 – 26 June 2010) was an Italian film actor and comedian who appeared in over 90 films between 1948 and 2001. He was born in Naples and was the brother of actor Carlo Giuffrè. He is known for his roles in '' The ...

: Giuseppe Salemi * Ferruccio De Ceresa: Senator *

Michele Abruzzo Michele Abruzzo (29 December 1904 – 17 November 1996) was an Italian actor. Life and career Born in Sciacca, Abbruzzo made his debut on stage at 12 years old. Often regarded as the successor of Angelo Musco, he formed his first stage compan ...

: Zaccaria *Jeannie Elias: Secretary of Walter * Elio Zamuto: Verzi *

Guido Celano Guido Celano (19 April 1904 – 7 March 1988) was an Italian actor, voice actor and film director. He appeared in 120 films between 1931 and 1988. He also directed two Spaghetti Westerns: ''Cold Killer'' and ''Gun Shy Piluk''. He was born i ...

References

External links

* 1972 films Films directed by Florestano Vancini 1972 crime drama films Italian crime drama films Films about the Sicilian Mafia Films scored by Ennio Morricone 1970s Italian-language films Films set in Sicily 1970s Italian films {{1970s-crime-drama-film-stub

Plot

Cast

See also

References

External links