L'assassin

More than a whodunit ,it is more some kind of jig saw puzzle, in a fragmented story full of flashbacks , a cat and mouse play between the suspect (Mastroianni)and superintendent Colombo (sorry ,Palumbo,played by Salvo Randone) and a depiction of the latter's method -one can wonder whether his mates in his cell are really convicts ;besides ,as the movie progresses, the principal is shown in a less flattering light (scene of the ""doctor" ).

Very good acting by the principal ,who seems caught in a kafkaesque situation (it's a long time before he learns what he's accused of :the phone call verges on cynicism on the cop's part)his questioning and his imprisonment is a real descent into hell; Micheline Presles has a relatively short screen time,but she makes all her scenes count .

Elio Petri would improve his technique in " indagine su un citado al di sopra di agni suspetto" (1970)