Illustrious Corpses

The film opens with the murder of Investigating Judge Vargas in Palermo, as demonstrations flare around a climate of political tension. The city is polarized between the Left and the Christian Democratic government, creating a charged backdrop for the investigation. Inspector Rogas is promptly assigned to the case and begins to gather initial clues.

Inspector Rogas is tasked with solving Vargas's murder and begins his initial probe. As he starts, two more judges are killed, heightening the sense of a broader conspiracy. The cases suggest corruption and influence at the highest levels.

The victims had all worked together on several cases, signaling a pattern rather than isolated crimes. Rogas begins to suspect institutional corruption and political interference. The investigation tightens around the judiciary and government ties.

Rogas uncovers evidence of corruption surrounding three government officials tied to the murders. His superiors counsel him not to chase gossip and to focus on a so-called 'crazy lunatic' instead. The pressure shows how politics can steer a murder investigation.

Rogas identifies Cres, a pharmacist previously convicted of poisoning his wife, as the likely suspect. Cres vanishes and all photographs of him are cut from public records, signaling a deliberate effort to erase him. The search for Cres intensifies as the truth remains elusive.

A fourth investigating judge is murdered, increasing the danger surrounding the case. Rogas runs into Cusan, a schoolmate who writes for a far-left newspaper and respects Rogas's commitment to investigation. The personal and political lines blur as tensions rise.

A fifth murder occurs in front of the Justice Building. The policeman and a prostitute give conflicting narratives about two young revolutionaries and a car fleeing the scene, suggesting manipulation and the masking of motives. The case grows more contentious and murky.

Rogas is demoted and reassigned to help pin the crimes on revolutionary Leftist groups. This shift illustrates how investigations are increasingly filtered through political agendas rather than evidence alone. Rogas braces for a tougher, more constrained pursuit of truth.

Rogas seeks out Riches, the President of the Supreme Court, to warn him that he might be targeted next. Riches offers a stark philosophy of justice, claiming the court is incapable of error by definition. The exchange foreshadows how legal structures can be used to shield political power.

At a party hosted by Pattos, Rogas sees Cres but the suspect vanishes again. The gathering involves high-ranking government and Left figures, underscoring the collision of politics and justice. Cres's presence hints at deeper links between the murders and political maneuvering.

Rogas arranges to bug the Chief of Police's office to uncover hidden influences. A subsequent recording reveals officials telling the anonymous listener to 'take it easy on the judges' while Rogas's investigation continues. The conspiracy extends into the very heart of law enforcement.

Rogas theorizes Cres carried out the early murders to justify a crackdown on leftist groups. He arranges a contact with Amar, the Communist Party's Secretary-General, and Cusan proposes the plan; Riches secretly records the conversation. The stage is set for a pivotal intersection of justice, politics, and propaganda.

Riches, who overheard the Amar–Rogas–Cusan conversation, is shot like the other judges. The assassination underscores the reach of the conspiracy and the peril facing those who pursue truth. The legal establishment is enveloped in fear and silence.

Rogas and Amar are killed during a museum meeting, marking a dramatic culmination of the plot. The Chief of Police later issues a statement blaming Amar's death on a mentally unstable Rogas and claims Rogas himself committed suicide. In the final scene, Cusan discusses with the Communist Party vice-secretary, who says the party will accept the government's version to avoid open conflict, declaring that truth is not always revolutionary.