I Am the Law (1977 film)

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I Am the Law
Il prefetto di ferro.jpg
Directed by Pasquale Squitieri
Written by Ugo Pirro
Starring Giuliano Gemma
Claudia Cardinale
Cinematography Silvano Ippoliti
Edited by Ruggero Mastroianni
Music by Ennio Morricone
Release date
  • 1977 (1977)
Country Italy
Language Italian

I Am the Law (Italian : Il prefetto di ferro), also known as The Iron Prefect, is a 1977 Italian drama film directed by Pasquale Squitieri. The film tells the story of Cesare Mori, an Italian prefect that before and during the Fascist period was best known as "the Iron Prefect", and it is based on the biographic book with the same name written by Arrigo Petacco. [1] The film shared with In the Name of the Pope King the 1978 David di Donatello for Best Film. [2] The film was well-received but also criticized for subtly downplaying Mori's fascism.

Contents

Plot

In 1925, Prefect Cesare Mori is sent by Mussolini to Palermo with special powers to fight the Mafia. Mori is not a Fascist, having fought against the ras Arpinati in the early twenties. Aided by police officer Francesco Spanò, he visits the house of mafia boss Antonio Capecelatro, and shoots him dead with a headshot on his balcony. He later organizes the siege of the town of Gangi, which culminates with the arrest and suicide of Don Calogero Albanese, fugitive for more than 40 years. The Prefect continues, undaunted in his work, frightening the Mafiosi who are trying to kill him.

Through the will left by an old man living in the poorhouse, he becomes acquainted with the lawyer Galli, chief hierarch of the Sicilian Fascists and the Minister of the Interior. Mori is appointed as a senator and leaves for Rome.

Cast

Releases

Wild East released this on a limited edition R0 NTSC DVD under its English title "I Am the Law" alongside The Day of the Owl, under the title "Mafia", in 2010.

The film was released on Blu-ray under the English title The Iron Prefect by UK distributor Radiance in July 2023.

References

  1. ↑ Tullio Kezich. Un anno al cinema. Il formichiere, 1978.
  2. ↑ "TV: PRESTO IL NUOVO 'PREFETTO DI FERRO'. PROTAGONISTA VINCENT PEREZ". Yahoo! Notizie. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 23 January 2012.


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