The Iron Prefect

While Italy produced its fair share of Godfather rip-offs and gangster thrillers in the ‘70s, there was a homegrown story just waiting to be told in the form of The Iron Prefect (1977) which follows the exploits of Cesare Mori, sent on a special mission to Sicily in 1919 to break up the growing influence of the Mafia.  A sort of High Noon meets Tombstone tale of one-man against insurmountable odds (starring Spaghetti Western veteran Giuliano Gemma), the film is a classy period-piece dripping in style and accompanied by a haunting score from Ennio Morricone.

 

With a reputation for stern tactics, Mori arrives in Sicily ready to go to war against an enemy deeply entrenched in the local community.  A chance meeting with an outspoken villager (played by the gorgeous Claudia Cardinale) shows him just how much work he’ll have to do to gain the citizens’ trust.  Momentum shifts in Mori’s favor after a series of high-profile arrests, leading to the occupation of the village of Gangi, a bandit stronghold that he surrounds with hundreds of military police.   But each victory leads to corruption further up the chain of command, leading Mori to suspect he was hired to make more headlines than arrests.

 

Working from a tight screenplay based on Arrigo Petacco’s novel, director Pasquale Squitieri’s film is shot with sweaty close-ups and long-lens landscapes that convey an almost claustrophobic sense of doom.  While Mori conducts his search and seizures in the open, all of the mafioso conversations are faceless, underlit, behind-closed-door affairs.  It’s a clever technique that Squitieri enhances with a sepia tone haze right out of Godfather 2.  No one is to be trusted, resentment runs deep, and enemies are everywhere.

 

The Iron Prefect works every bit as well as a Hollywood production of the same era.  Sometimes better.  Especially in the case of Morricone’s score, which repeats a signature refrain that he twists to fit every mood.  It’s one of the maestro’s best.  As Mori, Giuliano Gemma lets his make-up and machismo do most of the acting.  He’s a great physical fit for the role but doesn’t particularly add much besides his own reputation as the star of several classic Ringo outings.  The supporting cast, though, easily make up the difference elevating the film from an interesting history lesson to an unforgettable bit of mythmaking.

 

Radiance Films’ limited-edition Blu-ray is something fans of Italian cinema will want to pick up fast.  The 2K restoration looks wonderful, with that hazy Vilmos Zsigmond look so prevalent in the era.  Extras include a new interview with Squitieri biographer Domenico Monetti, an appreciation of Guiliano Gemma by filmmaker Alex Cox and archival interview with Squitieri and Gemma themselves.