Director: Alberto De Martino
Screenplay: Alberto De Martino, Adriano Bolzoni, Vincenzo Mannino, Leonardo Martín
Starring: Tomas Milian, Martin Balsam, Francisco Rabal
Country: Italy / Spain
Running Time: 102 minutes
Year: 1973
When discussing cinema of the 1970s, it is impossible to ignore the The Godfather. Italy, never one to ignore a chance to rip-off Hollywood, responded with Alberto De Martino’s 1973 film The Counsellor (Il consigliori). And again typical of Italian cinema, it’s really good. The film ambitiously blends Mafia family dynamics, revenge and generational conflict.
It has an impressive scope, with unusual location shooting across San Francisco, New Mexico, and Sicily. It’s a film anchored by standout performances, particularly Tomas Milian. He was more known for mania than Mafia and here is subdued as a conflicted advisor. He is perfectly paired with the wonderful Martin Balsam, who brings warmth to the role of Don Antonio. Balsam is a fantastic character actor, probably best known for The Taking of Pelham 123.
The only issue is the sheer ambition of trying to pack so much into a mere 100 minutes. When Sergio Leone blatantly remade Yojimbo, he at least did it straight and earned kudos to develop Spaghetti westerns his own way. Squeezing The Godfather this tight causes some rushing. Still, it’s fun, violent and the cast give it a splash of gravitas.
VIDEO
Making its worldwide UHD debut, this release features a brand-new native 4K restoration sourced directly from the original 35mm camera negative. The transfer provides deep contrast and fine detail, allowing the expansive landscapes to really shine.
EXTRA FEATURES
This is another cracking set from StudioCanal with significant investment in new material.
- New audio commentary featuring film historians Steve Mitchell and Troy Howarth
- Il Consigliori: Tradition vs Modernity – a video essay by Will Webb
- Introduction by Jean-Baptiste Thoret
- Original trailer and stills gallery
- Collector’s booklet featuring a new essay on the film by Peter Raleigh
