Illustrious Corpses aka Cadaveri Eccellenti / The Context
Directed by Francesco Rosi
From Francesco Rosi, the masterful director of Salvatore Giuliano, Hands Over the City, The Mattei Affair, Christ Stopped at Eboli and Lucky Luciano, comes the politically charged crime thriller Illustrious Corpses (aka The Context). Cinema icon Lino Ventura (The Sicilian Clan, Razzia Sur La Chnouf) stars as Inspector Rogas, a detective assigned to investigate the mysterious murders of some Supreme Court judges. During the investigation he discovers a conspiracy that involves the Italian Communist Party. Beautifully photographed by Pasqualino De Santis (Romeo and Juliet), this gripping neo-noir takes what Rosi called “a trip through the monsters and monstrosities of power.” The stellar international cast includes Tino Carraro (The Cat o’ Nine Tails), Marcel Bozzuffi (The Valdez Horses), Paolo Bonacelli (Midnight Express), Alain Cuny (Emmanuelle), Luigi Pistilli (For a Few Dollars More), Renato Salvatori (Luna), Tina Aumont (Fellini’s Casanova), Fernando Rey (Seven Beauties), Max von Sydow (Needful Things) and Charles Vanel (The Wages of Fear).
Restored by the Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata laboratory and The Film Foundation, with funding provided by the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker Alex Cox
Theatrical Trailer