Perche Si Uccide Un Magistrato (aka How To Kill A Judge) (1974)

A film maker's (Franco Nero) new movie is causing a sensation. Its plot about a corrupt judge in bed with the Mafia is a thinly disguised version of a real life judge (Marco Guglielmi). When the judge is assassinated, the film maker's guilt that his film might have inspired the murder causes him to seek out those responsible for the killing. Directed by Damiano Damiani (A BULLET FOR THE GENERAL), this is a wonderful crime thriller that has more on its mind than thrills. Among other things, it brings up a filmmaker's responsibility for the actions his movie can inspire. If he takes credit for the positive effects a movie can have, doesn't he also take responsibility for its negative effects? It questions responsible journalism as when a lie would do more good than the truth, does one print the lie? With the exception of Nero's film director, almost everyone is involved in some form of corruption and not everything is black and white. "Good" people can be bad and "bad" people can be good. As good as Nero is, the movie belongs to Francoise Fabian who gives a layered performance as the judge's widow. An absorbing thinking man's thriller. With Giorgio Cerioni, Salvatorre Moscardini and Renzo Palmer.