Movie Reviews

‘Illustrious Corpses’ Blu-Ray Review – Francesco Rosi Crafts A Biting Political Thriller That Still Resonates

By Dillon Gonzales
August 24, 2021
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Last year we explored Francesco Rosi’s ambitious 1979 contemplative epic Christ Stopped At Eboli which found the filmmaker tackling his preferred subject of perceived corruption in government. While that film is very rewarding for those willing to give in to its gentle manner, those in need of something with a more immediate driving force may want to seek out his prior film, Illustrious Corpses. Released in 1976 right in the midst of political uncertainty in Italy, the film uses the novel Equal Danger by Leonardo Sciasciaas as the basis for a political thriller that epitomizes the distrust in government that was so indicative of the time, and remains just as potent today. The recently-released Years Of Lead box set gathered together multiple films from this period that took on the weight of this societal instability, and Illustrious Corpses not only feels as if it would have been right at home alongside these films, but it might have been considered the crown jewel of the collection.

Rosi’s story begins as a man walks quietly through the corridors of a religious crypt communing with the long-dead bishops of the past, gathering their secrets. These decadent remains are only one side of the titular corpses that we will see as the film progresses. The other comes as this man exits his place of worship and wordlessly saunters down the street to his sudden assassination. This man is Judge Vargas, and he is only the first in a string of Supreme Court Justices who will be taken out by an unknown figure. The noble Inspector Rogas (Lino Ventura, Army Of Shadows) is assigned to investigate the judge’s death after an initial investigation fails to garner any leads. While held aloft by his peers, Judge Vargas is but one in a sea of political figures who are being excoriated by the working class and people of conflicting ideology. After a second and third judge is assassinated in a similar manner, Rogas discovers that the three have a connection, but tracking down the leads may prove difficult in a time of political subterfuge and cover-ups. In the end we are left with a singular message: “The truth is not always revolutionary.”

The film is one that does not solely focus on the resolution of this investigation; those who are looking for a tidy answer will be left sorely disappointed. Instead, the greater intrigue comes from watching an investigator with integrity navigate this complex world of duplicitous figures. The film contains many sudden moments of violence, but the action is usually underplayed for something a bit more thoughtful, a bit more wry in execution. Rogas is a cog in a larger machine who mostly trusts his superiors until it is clear there is more going on than he is being led to believe. They are quick to try to pin the crimes against these officials on the protestors and political agitators because it makes for a convenient narrative. Even when evidence points firmly to the contrary, it is stated in no uncertain terms where the investigation should be focused and how it should be executed. There is an exaltation for the rule of law by certain parties in the film; Max von Sydow (The Seventh Seal) gives one of the most chilling line readings of the film as he rhapsodizes about the similarities between law and religion. To his mind, judges are incapable of making an error when carrying out their sacred duty.

Rosi is not shy as he lobs his criticisms at the powers that be, although he is careful not to set the story in any known country to avoid drawing unnecessary criticisms. Rogas, brilliantly played by Ventura, is a character who becomes increasingly paranoid by his circumstances as the film develops, and for good reason. By the time you reach the downright nihilistic finale, you are left with a sobering viewpoint that no one can be trusted – especially in the government. Some may find the bluntness of the message a bit off-putting, but it is one that makes an impact and ties into everything that has been established up until this point. Nearly everyone in the film has an agenda, except for a key few such as a prostitute witness (Tina Aumont) who embraces her outsider status when she refuses to bend to pressure as is the custom. With this film, Rosi effortlessly balances his instinct for crafting a compelling narrative with the drive to inject something meaningful into the subtext. The specifics of the political climate may be different today, but the narrative resonates just as much today as when it was first released.

Video Quality

Illustrious Corpses comes to Blu-Ray with a new digital AVC encoded 1080p transfer in its original OAR derived from a 4K restoration from the original camera negative. The new restoration looks really magnificent throughout most of the runtime in a way that will impress those who have been waiting for it to be treated with care. There are occasional minor specks of print damage, but overall clarity and detail is very impressive. The picture can be the slightest bit soft in long shots, likely to be contributed to the source material, but this does not prove to be a major issue. There are interior shots of the church and various crime scenes that are packed with little details in the production design that are easily noticeable thanks to this transfer. Colors are well saturated and do not present with any unnatural hues. Skin tones are natural and consistent with subtle facial details easily noticeable in closeup. Black levels hold up well with next to nothing in the way of crush. Digital noise also does not present as an issue here. This new presentation is stunning from beginning to end. Kino Classics has done a marvelous job with this one.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with an excellent DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in the original Italian with optional English subtitles. Environmental sounds such as engine noises or gunshots are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear anywhere throughout this one. The score sounds great throughout the duration of the film as it establishes an ominous atmosphere for the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to trample the dialogue, as the track maintains a good balance so that information comes through clearly. Kino Classics has given this film the audio presentation fans would hope for with this excellent disc.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Filmmaker Alex Cox provides an entertaining commentary track in which he discusses the place of this film in Rosi’s filmography, the way in which the story comments on Italian politics, the background of the performers in the plan, the themes of the film and more. Cox often allows for long stretches of silence, but there is a lot of good information folded into this track.

Trailers: The nearly three-and-half minute trailer is provided for Illustrious Corpses. There are also trailers provided for The Sicilian Clan, A Pain In The Ass, The Hunter Will Get You and Farewell, Friend

Final Thoughts

Illustrious Corpses is a knockout political thriller from the great Francesco Rosi. The story never overplays the action of the situation, choosing instead to establish an ominous, unsettling pace that draws you closer with each tense scene. The performance from Lino Ventura is just one standout performance in an ensemble that is beyond reproach. Kino Classics has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a notable commentary track. This is one of the best I have seen from the director, and the new disc should please any fan who has been wishing for this release. Recommended

Illustrious Corpses will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray on September 28, 2021.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Kino Classics has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.