Displaying items by tag: Vatican Affair/ A Qualsiasi Prezzo mvoie

THE VATICAN AFFAIR/ A QUALSIASI PREZZO

Italy, 1968, 93 minutes, Colour.

Walter Pidgeon, Ira Firstenberg, Klaus Kinski, Marino Mase, Corrado Olmi, Roberto Maldera, Guido Alberti.

Directed by Emilio Maraglia.

In the aftermath of all the attention by the world with the second Vatican Council, 1968 saw a number of films focused on the Catholic church and the Vatican, Shoes of the Fisherman, Operazione San Gennaro, Operazione San Pietro. And the Vatican Affair - or the Italian title, At Whatever Price.

All of these films were heist capers, sometimes with American stars with the local Italian cast. In this case, the lead is veteran actor, Walter Pidgeon, an American professor, researching the Vatican Treasury, presenting his thesis to the Pope. And, puzzled by his rather stiff manner and bearing, we discover that he is blind.

And then we enter the realm of, perhaps, fantasy. He has organised a master theft at the Vatican Treasury, all with the aid of his chauffeur guiding him in walking and positioning himself, but also gathering a set of expert criminals, holding their records as ransom, a circus performer, Ira Furstenberg, an explosives expert seen in action, Klaus Kinski, a thief, Roberto Maldera, and a nervous expert, Corrado Olmi.

There is a lot of atmosphere of the Vatican throughout the film, the Cardinal in charge of the Treasury, the papal audience, various dignitaries, priest guides in the museums, meetings at friary and various friars…

Most of the film, of course, is the performance of the robbery, great attention to detail and timing.

The attitude of the professor is sometimes puzzling, urbane but ruthless, no particular development of the other characters except the unfaithful wife and potential liaisons.

And, a quietly urbane finale with the law triumphing.