La Decima Vittima aka The Tenth Victim (1965)

We really have got the 1960s to thank when it comes to the marked increase in celluloid imaginings of near and far futures…from Farenheit 451 and Alphaville to Zardoz, Planet Of The Apes and Logan’s Run - utopias and dystopias inhabited by Nehru collared hipsters, mini skirted birds..and monkeys….!

Italian cinema has had a long love affair with fantasy and science fiction and in 1965, film maker Elio Petri combined these with that other passion of Italy - crime films - and concocted a heady, clever and extremely cool movie: La Decima Vittima.

Marcello Mastroianni and Ursula Andress are contestants/assassins in a futuristic television game where after ten rounds of dodging, hunting and killing other assassins you win a million dollars. Followed by film crews and feted as superstars by the public, they pursue and are pursued through modernistic cityscapes and jazz clubs dispatching each other with relish.

The leads are dryly, knowingly self mocking in their roles and there are well aimed punches at the medium of television and the cult of celebrity. Dazzling in every way with Pop Art images all over the shop, sleek shiny sports cars, uber-mod styling, scenery and furniture to die for and a memorable grooved up soundtrack by Piero Piccioni.

With a bullet firing bra and a reference to Ming Tea, a famous homage to this absolute classic has been made of course in the first Austin Powers movie. The film is totally gorgeous to look. One can only drool in equal measure at the incredible clothing on display and the gobsmacking beauty of Ms Andress….Mama mia!

I have seen this twice, once at a cinema and recommend the big screen for this most special of films. There is, I believe, a dubbed version (yuk) but subtitles more than suffice if only to hear those sexy Italian voices. Seeing as there have been rumours that it is up for the ill informed remake treatment, now is surely the time to get this classic released on DVD…pronto!!

Witness THE KILLER BOD! And now - watch a clip....

Comments

[Chris]

Thanks for recommending this astounding piece of eye and brain candy. This film is an unexpected gem - I wasn't sure how it was going to unfold. Lots of twists and turns, and a perfect balance of over-the-top satire and 60s cool. Great website. Keep up the great work!