Cross Shot

Cross Shot

Year: 1976

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Stelvio Massi

Crime

A mobster kills a cop during a robbery and then finds himself pursued by the police, his gang, and the media.

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Timeline & Setting – Cross Shot (1976)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Cross Shot (1976). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Castel del Monte, country farm

The story unfolds across a southern Italian city surrounding the Ragusa crime network. Castel del Monte is a key outdoor location for confrontations, while a nearby country farm provides a retreat away from the city’s tensions. The setting includes the offices of a local newspaper, La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, and the bustling urban streets that become a battleground between mafia violence and law enforcement.

🏙️ Urban 🗺️ Southern Italy 🕵️ Crime scene

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:30

Main Characters – Cross Shot (1976)

Meet the key characters of Cross Shot (1976), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Commissario Jacovella (John Saxon)

A hasty yet fundamentally honest police chief who relies on decisive, sometimes unorthodox methods. He clashes with the city’s journalists and their scrutiny of his tactics, which adds tension to every investigation. His drive to restore order often comes at the cost of public sympathy but remains rooted in a sense of integrity.

👮 Police 🗞️ Media ⚖️ Ethics

Antonio Blasi (Lino Capolicchio)

A young, unemployed man who is drawn into crime by circumstance. He is overwhelmed by the violence he’s forced to commit and struggles with guilt as he tries to escape the consequences. His relationship with Nadia provides a fragile hope amid pursuit by Ragusa’s men.

💼 Youth 💥 Crime 🕊️ Guilt

Nadia (Rosanna Fratello)

Antonio’s loyal girlfriend who refuses to abandon him after the killings. She stands by him through danger and uncertainty, influencing his choices and supporting his decision to surrender. Her steadfastness underscores the human cost of the crime and the hope for redemption.

💑 Romance 🕊️ Loyalty 🌟 Hope

Dante Ragusa (Lee J. Cobb)

A powerful mafia boss whose reach fuels the conflict in the city. His operations and threats drive Blasi into a life on the run and set the broader feud between law enforcement and organized crime in motion. He represents the systemic violence underlying the narrative.

🗡️ Crime 🕴️ Power 🎭 Complexity

Pasquale Ragusa

The boss’s blind brother, a figure of influence in the Ragusa family’s circle. He becomes a target amid the violence and is killed by an agent during the escalating confrontation.

👁️ Blindness 🕵️ Crime 🔪 Violence

Maselli (Renzo Palmer)

Director of La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno who dislikes police brutality. He uncovers Blasi’s identity from his reporting, then uses his platform to help protect him and push for accountability. His actions show journalism as a counterweight to power.

📰 Journalism 🕊️ Integrity 🗺️ City Pulse

Nicola (Pasquale Basile)

One of the criminals involved in the initial bank robbery. His role contributes to the sequence of violence that puts Blasi on the run and intensifies the city’s crackdown on the gang.

🧨 Crime 🗃️ Evidence

Blasi's Father (Guido Celano)

A father figure who is killed by Ragusa’s henchmen during the chase, symbolizing the collateral damage of the mob’s power. His death underscores the indiscriminate violence that permeates the story.

⚰️ Death 🛡️ Family 🕷️ Violence

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:30

Major Themes – Cross Shot (1976)

Explore the central themes of Cross Shot (1976), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗞️ Media vs Law

The film centers on the friction between the police and the press, showing how journalism can influence justice. Maselli’s investigations and the newspaper’s revelations challenge Commissioner Jacovella’s unorthodox methods and force the city to confront uncomfortable truths. The media presence drives major plot turns, including exposure of the Blasi case and corruption links.

💔 Guilt and Consequences

Antonio Blasi is forced to commit murder under pressure, placing him on a moral knife-edge. His flight, remorse, and ultimate decision to surrender highlight the personal cost of crime. Nadia’s loyalty contrasts with the violence surrounding them, underscoring the stakes for loved ones. The ending, with Blasi dying as truth emerges, emphasizes the heavy toll of desperate choices.

⚖️ Justice and Power

Power consolidates violence as a mafia boss and a corrupt minister manipulate the system for advantage. The pursuit shows how evidence and corruption intertwine, complicating law enforcement. The crucial letter linking the minister to Ragusa becomes the turning point that enables the arrest. The film thus pits legal justice against entrenched influence.

Last Updated: October 05, 2025 at 08:30

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Cross Shot Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Cross Shot, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Cross Shot Summary

Cross Shot Timeline

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Cross Shot Timeline

More About Cross Shot

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