Meurtre à l'italienne

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!!

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!

Well worth seeing for many reasons: for the complex plot with many connections among those involved in a theft and a seemingly unrelated murder; for a look at Italy in 1959; for the good acting and fast cutting; and for the humor in the script.

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

This is a good crime/thriller movie. Anyone who likes similar movies, with police investigations/whodunnit as a plot, will like this as well. It's not a masterpiece and the conclusion feels a bit rushed and not too clever, but it's enjoyable overall, without plot holes and somewhat unpredictable. I didn't guess who the culprit is, so this movie is successful in my books. Don't expect mindblowing twists/action/car chases etc. Biggest quality here is the verisimilitude and the acting. Germi is excellent, his character is magnetic and charismatic, i 'd say even that his character is ahead of his time. Of course it's a bit outdated but this is totally norma for a 1959 movie. This is a 2 hours/B&W 1958 movie and it never got boring. Every fan of this genre will enjoy it.