Illustrious Corpses

Part of a wave of post-Watergate conspiracy thrillers, Illustrious Corpses (1976) takes on the Italian justice system at a time when the political landscape was already in chaos. As rival parties jockeyed for position, the powerful judicial branch wielded power that could be bought and sold by crime families and politicians alike. Adapted from a fictional novel but grounded in the anxieties of the moment, director Francesco Rosi changes the names and faces but makes it clear his film is anything but a work of fiction.

Inspector Amerigo Rogas (Lino Ventura) is assigned to the case of a murdered judge, scoping out the suspects who arrive at the funeral and asking pointed questions. But the assassinations continue and Rogas theory of a lone gunman taking revenge for a miscarriage of justice is soon discarded for a more insidious plot within the government itself. A plot that has no use for nosy policemen.

The comparisons between U.S. films like The Parallax View and The Conversation are certainly applicable here, especially the latter, with Rosi’s preference for long lenses to capture the action almost like watching the film though a sniper’s scope. And there’s a shared sense of paranoia as the conspiracy unfolds, proving that even the watchers (including guest star Max Von Sydow) are being watched. That deep dive into the complicated Italian legal system can be a bit much the first hour, but, ultimately, Illustrious Corpses relies on actor Lino Ventura’s hangdog expression and dogged persistence to guide the audience. His confusion is our own. And as the film peels back the layers to reveal the corruption underneath, his helplessness in the face of a system designed to distort the truth, manipulate the facts and protect the powerful is, tragically, our own as well.

Radiance’s limited-edition Blu-ray presents the film with a new 4K restoration and adds a commentary from Alex Cox, interviews with Francesco Rosi, Lino Ventura and author Gaetana Marrone plus a smartly written collector’s booklet.