It comes as no surprise to learn that the plot of this piece was developed on the initiative of Francesco Rosi and although the directorial styles of Luigi Zampa and Rosi are as different as chalk and cheese, Zampa's film could be seen as a precursor to Rosi's depictions of civil/civic corruption. This is from Zampa's neo-realist phase in contrast to his popular comedies featuring Alberto Sordi and is loosely inspired by the infamous Cuocolo murder case which took no less than five years to come to trial. Although most of the defendants were convicted, no evidence of collusion between the Camorra and the political-institutional world ever emerged.
The central figure of the judge who is determined to see justice done despite having to face antipathy, a conspiracy of silence, dodgy witnesses and an unsympathetic wife is beautifully realised by Amedeo Nazzari whose strong presence carries the day whilst Paolo Stoppa impresses as a particularly heavy-handed police commissioner and veteran Eduardo Ciannelli is a chilling villain. Franco Interlenghi and Irene Galter evince our sympathy as a couple whose only crime it seems is financial hardship and impossible to overlook pneumatic Silvana Pampanini who does her best in a thankless role.
Despite its gloomy subject matter and downbeat ending this expertly-constructed and well-written film was favoured both critically and commercially and is generally considered to be one of Zampa's finest. It also featured in International Festivals amongst movies representing the best of Italian Cinema. How does one explain therefore its subsequent obscurity? Even allowing for the fact that the demographic of IMDb is mainly American, it beggars belief that mine is only the second review, the first being posted fifteen years ago. Oh, well. Fools give you reasons..........
