“The 10th Victim” it’s a science fiction film with elements like the Italian comedy of 1965 directed by Elio Petri and based on the novel ‘Seventh Victim’ by Robert Sheckley. The film is set in the near future where the company has developed a game called “The Great Hunt,” where people challenge each other to become hunters or victims.
The plot follows the story of Marcello (played by Marcello Mastroianni), a hunter who tries to win his tenth game in the Great Hunt to get a cash prize and become the best hunter in the world. His next victim is Caroline (played by Ursula Andress), a beautiful and cunning woman who also turns out to be a hunter.
Marcello and Caroline begin a romantic relationship as they challenge each other for their lives. The film explores the theme of alienation in modern society, the nature of human aggression and the dehumanization of play.
“The 10th Victimwas a major commercial success in Italy and received critical acclaim for its satirical humor, eclectic cinematography, and the performances of Mastroianni and Andress. It was also a major influencer on the sci-fi comedy genre, and inspired many films later with similar themes.
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Plot
The plot of “The 10th Victim” takes place in the near future where society has developed a deadly game called “The Great Hunt.” In the game, people challenge each other to become hunters or victims, with the aim of eliminating their victim or avoiding to be caught.
Marcello (played by Marcello Mastroianni) is a professional hunter who has won nine games in the Great Hunt and is now trying to win his tenth game to get a cash prize and become the best hunter in the world. His next victim is Caroline (played by Ursula Andress), a beautiful and cunning woman who also turns out to be a hunter.
Marcello and Caroline start flirting as they try to kill each other. Meanwhile, Marcello is being followed by a camera crew filming his hunt for a hit show, while Caroline is being watched by a security organization who want to ensure her safety during the match.
As the hunt continues, Marcello and Caroline meet in various exotic places, such as Rome and New York, and confront each other in various dangerous situations. Eventually, they both find themselves in Rio de Janeiro, where the latter part of the match takes place. Here Marcello tries to kill Caroline.
Characters
Here is a brief description of the main characters of “The 10th Victim”:
Marcello: played by Marcello Mastroianni, he is a professional hunter who has won nine games in the Great Hunt and tries to win his tenth game to get a cash prize and become the best hunter in the world.
Caroline: played by Ursula Andress, she is Marcello’s next victim in the Great Hunt. She is also a professional hunter trying to survive the match and, at the same time, eliminate Marcello.
Olga: played by Elsa Martinelli, she is an old friend of Marcello who helps organize his game.
Professor: played by Massimo Serato, he is an expert on the Great Hunt who provides advice and support to hunters.
The Mathematician: played by Milo Quesada, he is another victim in the Great Hunt trying to eliminate Marcello.
The television crew: a group of television journalists who follow Marcello on his hunt and film everything for a successful program.
The Security Organization: An organization that takes care of ensuring the safety of the victims during the game and that supervises Caroline.
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Production
“The 10th Victim” is a 1965 Italian film directed by Elio Petri and produced by the international film company Cineriz. The film is based on the novel “Seventh Victim” by Robert Sheckley and was shot mainly in Rome and New York.
The film’s budget was approximately one million dollars and was financed in part by United Artists, which also acquired the rights to distribute the film internationally. The production was directed by Carlo Ponti, who had previously worked with Mastroianni and Petri on 1962’s Counted Days.
The film required a great deal of effort in creating the futuristic scenery, special effects and costumes. The original soundtrack was composed by Piero Piccioni.
“The 10th Victimpremiered at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival, where it received a positive response from critics. The film was then released worldwide and achieved great commercial success.
Distribution and Reception
“The 10th Victim” premiered at the 1965 Cannes Film Festival and received positive critical response. The film was then released worldwide and achieved great commercial success.
In Italy, the film was released on November 19, 1965 and earned about 1.7 billion lire, becoming one of the most popular films of the year. In the United States, the film was released by United Artists in 1966 and grossed approximately $2.2 million.
The performances of the actors, especially that of Mastroianni and Andress, were praised by critics. The film was also praised for its satire on modern society and its critique of the use of violence as a form of entertainment.
The film was also nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film in 1967.”The 10th Victim” is now considered a classic of Italian cinema and an important example of the science fiction genre of the 60s.
Style
“The 10th Victim” is a film that mixes different cinematic styles and genres, including science fiction, action, comedy and the thriller. The narrative is characterized by a fast pace and frenetic editing, with an innovative use of special effects and camera techniques.
Director Elio Petri used a visually appealing and futuristic style, with colorful scenery and bold costumes that evoke a world of advanced technology. The use of bright photography and neon lights help create an atmosphere that recalls the noir films from the 40s and 50s.
Piero Piccioni’s soundtrack is another important element of the film’s style, with a blend of jazz and pop music that emphasizes the ironic and sardonic side of the plot.
“The 10th Victim” is also notable for its satirical message on modern society, which uses human hunting as a form of entertainment. The film is a work of social and political criticism, reflecting on the alienation of modern man and his dependence on the media and from the show.
All in all, “The 10th Victim” is an innovative and stylistically bold film that influenced the Italian cinema and international, becoming a classic of the science fiction genre.
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Director
Elio Petri (1929-1982) was an Italian director, screenwriter and set designer. Born in Rome, he began working as a film critic and then wrote screenplays for various directors, including Federico Fellini, Luchino Visconti and Mario Monicelli.
Petri made his directorial debut in 1959 with the film “The Assassin”, a psychological thriller which achieved great critical and commercial success. Throughout the 60s and 70s, he directed several masterpiece movies, including “The days are numbered” (1962), “The 10th Victim” (1965), “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (1970) and “Todo Modo” (1976).
Petri’s cinema is characterized by a strong attention to social and political issues, with a particular attention to the contradictions of the Italian society of the time. The director has often used irony and satire to highlight the hypocrisies and injustices of the system, without ever renouncing the aesthetic and formal dimension of cinema.
Petri won many international awards during his career, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film in 1972 for “Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion”. He continued to work until his death in 1982, leaving an important legacy in Italian and international cinema.
