Based on a book by Arrigo Petacco, the movie focuses on the historical figure of Cesare Mori (Giuliano Gemma), prefect sent to Sicily during Fascism to fight the Mafia.
Mori, we learn, is not a Fascist himself (he had previously opposed the regime), but a stern man of law determined to see justice prevail.
After the brutal murder of a family, Mori resorts to direct, extreme methods - more a war than a police operation (he was granted complete freedom of action). When the prefect and his men besiege a town which has become a bandits' stronghold, they leave everyone without water, including women and children, until the surrender.
Gemma, lead of many spaghetti westerns, gives a tight performance, probably the best of his career. He plays Mori as a steely man with much righteous anger boiling under his cold facade. Stefano Satta Flores gives a vivid portrayal of his right-hand man. Claudia Cardinale has a largely unnecessary role as a minor character - the subplot is not terrible, but it feels shoehorned in to give Cardinale something to do. Prolific Ennio Morricone composed the soundtrack.
Mori's methods give effective results against low, violent crime. However, when he attempts to tackle the higher spheres of the Mafia, he discovers their ties with key political figures. In the bitter epilogue, Mori tries to open the can of worms nonetheless, only to be stopped by the same people who had initially given him his task.
7,5/10
Mori, we learn, is not a Fascist himself (he had previously opposed the regime), but a stern man of law determined to see justice prevail.
After the brutal murder of a family, Mori resorts to direct, extreme methods - more a war than a police operation (he was granted complete freedom of action). When the prefect and his men besiege a town which has become a bandits' stronghold, they leave everyone without water, including women and children, until the surrender.
Gemma, lead of many spaghetti westerns, gives a tight performance, probably the best of his career. He plays Mori as a steely man with much righteous anger boiling under his cold facade. Stefano Satta Flores gives a vivid portrayal of his right-hand man. Claudia Cardinale has a largely unnecessary role as a minor character - the subplot is not terrible, but it feels shoehorned in to give Cardinale something to do. Prolific Ennio Morricone composed the soundtrack.
Mori's methods give effective results against low, violent crime. However, when he attempts to tackle the higher spheres of the Mafia, he discovers their ties with key political figures. In the bitter epilogue, Mori tries to open the can of worms nonetheless, only to be stopped by the same people who had initially given him his task.
7,5/10