An anthology film / black comedy about three ordinary men who become involved in violent crimes.
Acting
Sordi, Chiari, Manfredi — Italian comedy royalty at peak pathetic-male energy.
Direction
Three distinct auteurs, one unified vision of human ridiculousness.
Director
Carlo Lizzani
Alberto Sordi
Fernando Boccetta (segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Walter Chiari
Bertazzi (segment "Sadik")
Nino Manfredi
Nanni Galassi (segment "Il vittimista")
Sylva Koscina
Paola (segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Tino Buazzelli
The shrink (segment "Il vittimista")
Dorian Gray
Veronique (segment "Sadik")
Magda Konopka
Luciana (segment "Il vittimista")
Giampiero Albertini
Il "Rosso" (segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Federico Boido
(segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Luciano Bonanni
Claudio the lifeguard (segment "Il vittimista")
Alessandro Cutolo
Eraldo (segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Oretta Fiume
Claudia (segment "L'autostrada del sole")
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Thrilling arrived at peak 'commedia all'italiana,' when Italian cinema weaponized laughter against postwar social fractures. The three directors were already stars; this collaboration was basically the Avengers of cynicism.
The title's ironic — 'thrilling' in Italian marketing meant pulp excitement, but the film deliberately drains all adrenaline from crime. Lizzani allegedly fought Scola over whose segment was most depressing.
IT
