The Sicilian (1987)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Michael Cimino

Writers:

Mario Puzo (novel)
Steve Shagan (writer)

Release Date:

23 October 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Only one man ever dared to stand alone.

Plot:

Egocentric bandit Salvatore Guiliano fights the Church, the Mafia, and the landed gentry while leading a populist movement for Sicilian independence.

Plot Keywords:

Mafia | Sicilian | Landed Gentry | Mafia Don | Robin Hood Plot

Cast

Christopher Lambert	...	Salvatore Giuliano
Terence Stamp	...	Prince Borsa
Joss Ackland	...	Don Masino Croce
John Turturro	...	Pisciotta
Richard Bauer	...	Hector Adonis
Barbara Sukowa	...	Camilla, Duchess of Crotone
Giulia Boschi	...	Giovanna Ferra
Ray McAnally	...	Trezza
Barry Miller	...	Dr. Nattore
Andreas Katsulas	...	Passatempa
Michael Wincott	...	Cpl. Silvestro Canio
Derrick Branche	...	Terranova
Richard Venture	...	Cardinal of Palermo
Ramon Bieri	...	Quintana
Stanko Molnar	...	Silvio Ferra

Runtime:

Argentina:116 min | France:146 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (35 mm prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Sutera, Caltanissetta, Sicily, Italy

Company:

Gladden Entertainment

Trivia:

The role of Prince Borsa was offered to Dirk Bogarde.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The film shows Guiliano trying to stop the massacre at Portella della Ginestre (blamed in the film on Terranova, who was one of the few of Giuliano's band who it's definitely known did NOT fire a single shot on that day). In reality Guiliano always accepted full responsibility for the massacre and expressed no sorrow for the victims.

Quotes:

Cpl. Silvestro Canio: Aren't you a bit young to be declaring war on Rome?
Salvatore Giuliano: At my age Alexander the Great had conquered half the world. They called him "Fire from Heaven."
Cpl. Silvestro Canio: Alexander? He wasn't a Sicilian like you an me. There's no fire in our heaven to fall.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) (TV)

I like it

Despite the score of 4.8/10, I still picked up The Sicilian in the DVD bargain bin since I liked Christopher Lambert in Highlander and Fortress. I'm not gonna say Christopher Lambert is the greatest actor in the world but I guess he did OK in this. They've got some good supporting actors such as Joss Ackland and John Turturro that bring life to the movie. I like this movie a lot. It is MUCH better than the trash Lambert has starred in the past five years [i.e. Fortress 2, Absolon]. This movie deserves more than a 4.8...more like a 6.5+. Michael Cimino has got to be one of the greatest directors ever but I guess after Heavens Gate, people lost faith in him. Oh well. If you're looking for a spin-off Godfather type movie with the 'Highlander', it's worth a rent.