Main Cast: Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp, Joss Ackland, John Turturro, Richard Bauer, Barbara Sukowa
Release Year: 1987
Country: US
Run Time: 146 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Adapted from Mario Puzo's novel, The Sicilian is an attempt to chronicle the life and times of Mafia leader, patriot and real-life Robin Hood Salvatore Giuliano, the infamous bandit who, together with his rag-tag band of guerillas, attempted to liberate 1940s Sicily from Italian rule and make it an American state. Giuliano (Christopher Lambert) robs from the rich conservative landowners to give to the poor, serf-like peasants, who in turn hail him as their savior. As his popularity grows, so does his ego, and he eventually thinks he is above the power of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce (Joss Ackland). The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest advisor Gaspare (John Turturro) to assassinate him. Nearly thirty minutes of screen time were haphazardly hacked off director Michael Cimino's original cut by the studio. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide
Ray McAnally - Minister Trezza; Giulia Boschi - Giovanna Ferra; Barry Miller - Dr. Nattore; Andreas Katsulas - Passatempo; Michael Wincott - Cpl. Silvestro Canio; Derrick Branche - Terranova; Richard Venture - Cardinal of Palermo; Ramon Bieri - Quintana; Stanko Molnar - Silvio Ferra; Oliver Cotton - Comdr. Roccofino; Joe Regalbuto - Father Doldana; Tom Signorelli - Abbot Manfredi; Aldo Ray - Don Siano of Bisacquino; Nicholas Kepros - University President; Justin Clark - Boy; Trevor Ray - Frisella The Barber; Danilo Mattei - Lieutnant; Massimo Sarchielli - Enzo; Tony Sperandeo - Barracks Policeman; Leonardo Treviglio - Policeman in Wheatfields; Franco Trevisi - Policeman in Wheatfields; Riccardo de Torrebruna - Adjutant; Anita Laurenzi - Mrs. Frisella
Credit
Stefano M. Ortolani - Art Director, Deborah Brown - Casting, Wayne A. Finkelman - Costume Designer, Brian Cook - First Assistant Director, Michael Cimino - Director, Françoise Bonnot - Editor, Sidney Beckerman - Executive Producer, David Mansfield - Composer (Music Score), Wolf Kroeger - Production Designer, Alex Thomson - Cinematographer, Joann Carelli - Producer, Michael Cimino - Producer, David Begelman - Producer, Joe Chevalier - Set Designer, David Crozier - Sound/Sound Designer, Michael Cimino - Screenwriter, Mario Puzo - Screenwriter, Steve Shagan - Screenwriter, Gore Vidal - Screenwriter, Francis Grumman - Second Unit Director Of Photography, Mario Puzo - Book Author
Patriot and real-life Robin Hood Salvatore Giuliano, the infamous bandit who, together with his rag-tag band of guerrillas, attempted to liberate early 1950s Sicily from Italian rule and make it an American state. Giuliano robs from the rich conservative landowners to give to the poor, servant-like peasants, who in turn hail him as their savior. As his popularity grows, so does his ego, and he eventually thinks he is above the power of his backer, Mafia Don Masino Croce. The Don, in turn, sets out to kill the upstart by convincing his cousin and closest adviser Gaspare to assassinate him.
Production
Cimino sued the producers of the film in an attempt to prevent them from releasing an edited and shortened version of it to theatres, though the suit failed.[1] An extended director's cut was later released on DVD (see "Alternate versions" below).
Reception
Critical reaction to the film was mixed to negative. It holds a rating of 13% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on eight reviews[2]. Vincent Canby of The New York Times said, "Cimino's fondness for amber lighting and great, sweeping camera movements are evident from time to time, but the film is mostly a garbled synopsis of the Puzo novel."[1]Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times praised Cimino's direction, but felt the film was "dark, gloomy, brooding, and completely confusing."[3] Hal Hinson of the Washington Post felt it was "unambiguously atrocious, but in that very special, howlingly grandiose manner that only a filmmaker with visions of epic greatness working on a large scale with a multinational cast can achieve."[4]
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 due to copyright issues.
Alternate versions
Originally released at 115 minutes in the USA. A 146-minute director's cut is available on video and at least in Europe as a region 2 DVD.
References
^ abReview, Vincent Canby, The New York Times, October 23, 1987
