Professione: reporter (1975)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Michelangelo Antonioni

Writers:

Mark Peploe (story)
Mark Peploe (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

9 April 1975 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

I used to be somebody else...but I traded myself in.

Plot:

A frustrated war correspondent, unable to find the war he's been asked to cover, takes the risky path of co-opting the I.D. of a dead arms dealer acquaintance.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Reporter | Identity | Journalist | Hotel

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jack Nicholson	...	David Locke
Maria Schneider	...	Girl
Jenny Runacre	...	Rachel Locke
Ian Hendry	...	Martin Knight
Steven Berkoff	...	Stephen
Ambroise Bia	...	Achebe
José María Caffarel	...	Hotel Keeper
James Campbell	...	Witch Doctor
Manfred Spies	...	German Stranger
Jean-Baptiste Tiemele	...	Murderer
Ángel del Pozo	...	Police inspector
Charles Mulvehill	...	David Robertson (as Chuck Mulvehill)
Narciso Pula	...	Murderer's accomplice

Also Known As:

The Passenger (International: English title) (UK)
El reportero (Spain)
Profession: reporter (France)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, nudity and language. (edited version)

Runtime:

126 min | 119 min

Country:

Italy | Spain | France

Language:

English | Spanish | German | French

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Italy:T | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | UK:A (original rating) | West Germany:12 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

4 Lansdowne Crescent, Notting Hill, London, England, UK

Company:

Compagnia Cinematografica Champion

Trivia:

The execution of a prisoner in this film is not staged. It consists of actual footage of a real execution.

Quotes:

The Girl: People disappear every day.
David Locke: Every time they leave the room.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Apocalypse Now (1979)

One of the most beautiful shots I can remember

I haven't seen the film for quite a while but I still remember it as one of the greatest movies I have ever seen. In my memory the last scene is an incredible, uncut take of about ten minutes in which Jack Nickolson is simply waiting in a hotel room. The shot starts with the camera in the room, then it moves through the window (right through some iron bars as I recall) to make a very slow flight above an almost deserted square outside (there is a small driving school vehicle riding round and round.) Meanwhile another car approaches, some people get out and go in the hotel, the camera stays out while we hear these people walking up the stairs, entering the room and then a shot. When the people come out of the hotel and get in their car the camera makes a loop back into the room again. Almost nothing happens in sight, but nevertheless -or maybe because of that, the suggestion- it is such a wonderful shot, it's hard to describe, it is a 'must see'.

Unfortunately the movie is not yet available on dvd. Is there anybody who knows if and when it will be?