The Tenth Victim [La Decima Vittima] *** (1965, Marcello Mastroianni, Ursula Andress, Elsa Martinelli) – Classic Movie Review 8608

Director Elio Petri’s 1965 Italian movie The Tenth Victim [La Decima Vittima] is a fascinating, bizarre Sixties sci-fi action drama with a darkly comic undertone about a future society that offers prizes to licensed killers for murdering people.

Spectacular sets and costumes and the script’s wayward sense of humour – Ursula Andress plays Caroline Meredith who shoots people with her double-barrelled bra, her character’s murder of Marcello Poletti (Marcello Mastroianni) is to be filmed as a tea commercial – add to the cult interest.

Based on Robert Sheckley’s story The Seventh Victim, it is spectacularly dated but kooky and eye-catching, with a finely tuned sense of tension and a smart satirical tone.

Also in the cast are Elsa Martinelli, Massimo Serato, Salvo Randone, Evi Rigano, Milo Queseda, Luce Bonifassy, George Wang, Walter Williams, Richard Armstrong, Antonio Ciani and Wolfgang Hillinger.

The Tenth Victim [La Decima Vittima] is directed by Elio Petri, runs 92 minutes, is made by Compagnia Cinematografica Champion and Les Films Concordia, is released by Avco Embassy, is written by Elio Petri, Ennio Flajano, Tonino Guerra and Giorgio Salvoni, based on Robert Sheckley’s story The Seventh Victim, is shot in Technicolor by Gianni di Venanzo, is produced by Carlo Ponti, is scored by Piero Piccioni and is designed by Piero Poletto.

Andress replaced a too-busy Ann-Margret.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8608

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com