The Sicilian (1987)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Mario Puzo (novel)
Steve Shagan (writer)

Release Date:

23 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Only one man ever dared to stand alone.

Plot:

Egocentric bandit Salvatore Guiliano fights the Church, the Mafia, and the landed gentry while leading a populist movement for Sicilian independence.

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Sicilian | Landed Gentry | Mafia Don | Robin Hood Plot

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	Salvatore Giuliano
Terence Stamp	...	Prince Borsa
Joss Ackland	...	Don Masino Croce
John Turturro	...	Pisciotta
Richard Bauer	...	Hector Adonis
Barbara Sukowa	...	Camilla, Duchess of Crotone
Giulia Boschi	...	Giovanna Ferra
Ray McAnally	...	Trezza
Barry Miller	...	Dr. Nattore
Andreas Katsulas	...	Passatempa
Michael Wincott	...	Cpl. Silvestro Canio
Derrick Branche	...	Terranova
Richard Venture	...	Cardinal of Palermo
Ramon Bieri	...	Quintana
Stanko Molnar	...	Silvio Ferra

Runtime:

Argentina:116 min | France:146 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Sutera, Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy

Company:

Gladden Entertainment

Trivia:

The novel is a spin-off of The Godfather (set during Michael's exile in Sicily), however all references to the Corleones are omitted from the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film shows Giulano marrying the sister of a communist. Not only was the communist-hating Guiliano never married, but there is no verifiable record of him ever even having a girlfriend.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Don Masino Croce: [by Guiliano's grave] Why couldn't he... why wouldn't he come to me?
Hector Adonis: Why should he? He was his own father. He invented himself. You and I... now...
[he sobs]
Hector Adonis: ... He's gone.
Don Masino Croce: What next?... What next?
Hector Adonis: There is nothing next. There never is... here!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

A movie with some political comment.

In keeping with one of the movie's subplots, I confess to being a total Cimino fan. I have loved the four films that I have bought on DVD and I believe he is a much underrated director.  I just finished The Sicilian several minutes ago and I, as opposed to the last commentators, loved the film, did not fall to the floor in hysterical laughter and did not think that Cimino wanted to become Scorsese in the worst way. I thought the script was thoughtful and one of the few films to confront the historical political skeleton hanging in every Italian closet--the skeleton of land redistribution and the ghosts that haunt,to this day, the society of old Italy. The people of Bologna and Emilia-Romangna understand this but the Scicilians still rely on the Mafia. Of course, everyone sees in a film that which they are programmed from childhood to see; for me, however, I saw a deeper film than other commentators saw and as a result, I watched a far better film--a film of great substance with the rough beauty of the Scicilian countryside and the Scililian cityscapes bared for all to appreciate. The historicity of Cimino's films produce a memorable panoply of substance, painted on a canvas of great beauty. I loved the actors and I loved all that they did on the screen; I applaud Cimino for his artistic brilliance. I am hugely saddened that there is nothing comparable in today's Hollywood cinema.