Aquele Caso Maldito

Although Pietro Germi has the distinction of having directed the prototype of the genre known as Commedia all'Italiana, his non-comedic films are strongly influenced by the cinema of North America and here he has given us a first-rate 'police procedural'.

He and his excellent collaborators Alfredo Giannetti and Ennio de Concini have also faced the daunting task of adapting Carlo Emilio Gadda's 'That awful mess on Via Merulina' which is a panorama of life in Fascist Italy of the late 1920's. Granted, it involves a murder investigation but the author has not felt the need to tell us whodunnit!

The investigating detective in this loose, updated adaptation is played by Signor Germi who has once again opted to direct himself and has created a fascinating character. His skill with actors is legendary and he draws fine performances from Eleonora Rossi Drago, Franco Fabrizi, Claudio Gora, Claudia Cardinale, Nino Castelnuovo and of course the ubiquitous Saro Urzi. Signorina Cardinale is again 'dubbed' as her voice was considered too coarse for the roles she played. She is on the brink here of her greatest decade and we hear her own voice for the first time in Visconti's 'Il Gattopardo' in 1963.

The plot of this is convoluted to say the least but we are carried along by Germi's taut direction, sharp editing by Roberto Cinquini and well-drawn characterisations. Germi's regular cinematographer Leonarda Barboni and composer Carlo Rustichelli contribute immeasurably. Rustichelli's score is particularly full-blooded and he has composed a beautiful and haunting canzona sung by his daughter Alida, entitled 'Otherwise I'll die' which reflects the passionate relationship between the characters played by Cardinale and Castelnuovo. Viewers will no doubt recognise in Cardinale's frantic run after the police car a distinct echo of Anna Magnani's iconic dash in 'Rome, open City'.

Opinions differ as to whether Germi should be counted among the great Italian directors. I suppose it depends upon one's criteria. His most popular films of course have been his beautifully observed satirical comedies but from his directorial debut with the melodrama 'Il Testimone' he has never ceased to show a capacity to tell a story, engage our emotions and to get the very best from his actors. He is sorely in need of reappraisal.

Gadda's masterpiece is a blend of philosophical novel with mystery and murder, a baroque, caustic and ultimately poignant work exploring the myriad of interactive lives' endless and kaleidoscopic complexities - in other words, causes often interrelated that converge to the production of each individual effect. The book was rather flatenned here, but still it's Germi's most lasting and currently estimable movie, even better than The Road to Hope and Seduced and Abandoned.

This is really a overlooked masterpiece! Germi made a terrific movie from the difficult Gadda's novel. One of his greatest films, together with "Divorzio all'Italiana" e "Il Ferroviere". The acting, especially Germi's, is perfect, and the rythm he impressed to the movie is unique, a sad ballad with soft humor touches. This movie make me proud to be italian and make me a little less ashamed of the contemporary italian cinema. Take a look at this gem and you'll understand!!

Pietro Germi doesn't belong to "high class" of the Italian's directors as federico Fellini, Visconti, Rossellini and others, due he was a bad temper, rough and refuses make part of this circle, he was unique, he implied an American style in his pictures, In Maledetto Inbroglio was clearly one of them, the plot is split in two striking cases, a robbery and a murder, just connected by both were took place in next door, Pietro Germi plays a chief of police at task force in charge to investigate both cases, seemingly has some connection linking those weird happenings, two exhaustive hours were spent to find out the murder, despite Germi changes the ending, he imposes a frenetic non stop acting which thrilled the viewer, a hard and complex case to solve, due countless directions that arise at any moment, a fabulous picture, on those quaint Italian environment, with a bit odd humor, a movie to be discovered for the new generation of cinephiles, highly recommended!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 9.25

How beautiful Claudia was, and what a cool role she plays! She is the most impressive of all, she doesn't have too many lines, but what a feeling, what a look. Then, Alida Chelli's very powerful song - "Sinnò Me Moro", stirs you deep into the heart. Excellent Pietro Germi, as a director and actor! All the others are excellent: Franco Fabrizi, Claudio Gora, Eleonora Rossi Drago, Nino Castelnuovo, Saro Urzi. 10 stars at least!