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We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) movie poster

Characters & Themes

We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
1967 · 99 mins · Italian
JustWatch #6,747 11
Directed by
Elio Petri
Starring
Gian Maria Volonté, Luigi Pistilli, Irene Papas, Leopoldo Trieste, Salvo Randone, Carmelo Oliviero

Set on the island of Sicily, the story follows a left‑leaning professor who becomes obsessed with uncovering what really happened to two men slain during a hunting party. His investigation pits him against the entrenched power of the Mafia, the Church and corrupt politicians who will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (7)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like We Still Kill the Old Way
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)

Where can you watch We Still Kill the Old Way? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, MGM Plus and Philo: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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7 main characters · contains spoilers

We Still Kill the Old Way Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of We Still Kill the Old Way (1967), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Professore Paolo Laurana (Gian Maria Volonté)

    Brilliant, principled professor who seeks the truth behind Manno's murder. He suspects the public guilt is misdirected and carefully links clues. He harbors a secret love for Luisa Roscio, which colors his judgment and invites danger as he pushes the investigation forward. His idealism clashes with the town's corruption, foreshadowing the peril he faces.

    • 🧠 Intelligent
    • 🔎 Investigator
    • 💔 Unrequited love
  • Luisa Roscio (Irene Papas)

    Widow of Manno’s murdered companion, wary, and intelligent. She cooperates with Laurana's inquiry while navigating the town's dangerous politics. She suspects her cousin Rosello's involvement but remains torn between loyalty and truth. Her choices drive the narrative toward the town's moral reckoning.

    • 💬 Strong-willed
    • 🕊️ Grief
    • 🗝️ Secrets
  • Arturo Manno (Luigi Pistilli)

    A known womanizer whose behavior provokes resentment in the town. His murder becomes the catalyst for the investigation and exposes the fragility of social façades. His role is primarily as the spark that reveals corruption rather than a deeply developed figure.

    • 💢 Womanizer
    • ⚖️ Victim
    • 🌪️ Catalyst
  • Avvocato Rosello (Gabriele Ferzetti)

    Charismatic lawyer and local power broker, initially treated with suspicion but essential to unraveling the town's network. He may be involved in cover-ups and uses his position to influence proceedings. His actions embody how legal authority can be manipulated to protect the guilty.

    • ⚖️ Lawyer
    • 🕴️ Power broker
    • 💡 Manipulation
  • Professore Roscio (Salvo Randone)

    Respected professor whose cautious demeanor mirrors the town's intellectual elite. He shares Laurana's passion for truth but remains wary of how far to push suspects. His role hints at the danger that frank inquiry can invite in a close-knit community.

    • 🧠 Intellectual
    • 🛡️ Protective
    • 🤔 Suspicious
  • Rosina (Luciana Scalise)

    Underage servant whose relationship with Manno becomes a focal point of the case. Her position makes her a potential pawn in town power plays, and her fate reflects the vulnerability of vulnerable individuals in a hostile environment.

    • 🌸 Young
    • 🕊️ Vulnerable
    • 🔍 Key witness
  • Dr. Antonio Roscio (Franco Tranchina)

    Medical doctor in the town; his family ties and potential motive are hinted in the investigation. He embodies how personal relationships intersect with public crime in a tight-knit community.

    • 🧬 Medical
    • 🕵️‍♀️ Suspect
    • 🔗 Family ties

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

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Setting

Where and When Does We Still Kill the Old Way Take Place?

The setting of We Still Kill the Old Way (1967): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Small Sicilian town

A tight-knit coastal town where gossip travels fast and old loyalties bind families. The local power structure blends politics, church authority, and petty vengeance. The seaside streets and dimly lit alleys create a claustrophobic backdrop for a murder investigation that shatters appearances.

  • 🏛️ Small-town life
  • ⚖️ Corruption
  • 🌊 Seaside

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

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3 major themes

We Still Kill the Old Way Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Power & Corruption

    The film centers on a corrupt local elite who manipulate threats and violence to maintain control. Wealth, status, and political influence shield criminals while ordinary people pay the price. The investigation reveals that appearances in town life mask a web of favors, coercion, and cover-ups.

  • Truth vs Deception

    Laurana's pursuit of truth clashes with surface appearances and calculated misdirection. Letters cut from a Vatican newspaper and a diary with missing pages show how evidence can be manipulated. The search exposes a labyrinth of lies that endangers anyone who digs too deep.

  • Love & Jealousy

    Laurana's secret love for Luisa colours his investigation and blinds him to danger. Luisa's guarded reactions reveal how personal feelings can influence justice and loyalty. The romance becomes a lens on power, betrayal, and the human cost of truth-seeking.

Last updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:27

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Character & theme questions

We Still Kill the Old Way Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about We Still Kill the Old Way (1967): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the story set?

The movie takes place in a small Sicilian coastal town. The setting is described as tight-knit where gossip travels fast and old family loyalties run deep. The seaside streets and dimly lit alleys create a claustrophobic backdrop that mirrors the moral confinement of the investigation.

  • sicily
  • italy
  • coastal town
  • setting
  • small town
Q2

What does the movie say about power and corruption?

The film explores how the local elite manipulate threats and violence to maintain control. Wealth, status, and political influence shield criminals while ordinary people suffer the consequences. The investigation reveals that respectable appearances mask a web of favors, coercion, and cover-ups.

  • corruption
  • power
  • mafia
  • church
  • politics
  • elite
Q3

What is the message about truth versus deception?

The film shows how evidence can be manipulated through cut-out letters and missing diary pages. Laurana's pursuit of truth clashes with calculated misdirection from multiple directions. The search exposes a labyrinth of lies that endangers anyone who digs too deep into the town's secrets.

  • truth
  • deception
  • investigation
  • evidence
  • lies
  • mystery
Q4

Who is Professore Paolo Laurana?

Laurana is a brilliant, principled professor portrayed by Gian Maria Volonté who becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Manno's murder. He secretly loves Luisa Roscio, which colors his judgment and invites danger. His idealism clashes directly with the town's deep-rooted corruption.

  • paolo laurana
  • professor
  • investigator
  • protagonist
  • idealist
Q5

Who is Luisa Roscio and what is her role?

Luisa Roscio is a widow played by Irene Papas who is wary and intelligent. She cooperates with Laurana's investigation while navigating the town's dangerous political landscape. She suspects her cousin Rosello's involvement but remains torn between family loyalty and seeking truth.

  • luisa roscio
  • widow
  • investigation
  • loyalty
  • witness
Q6

What role do the Mafia and Church play in the story?

The film depicts the Mafia, the Church, and corrupt politicians as an intertwined power structure that will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried. These three forces combine to create an impenetrable barrier against justice, using threats and violence to maintain control over the town.

  • mafia
  • church
  • corruption
  • crime
  • institutions
  • conspiracy
Q7

How does love and jealousy factor into the story?

Laurana's secret love for Luisa influences his investigation and blinds him to danger. Luisa's guarded reactions reveal how personal feelings can compromise justice and loyalty. The romance serves as a lens to examine power dynamics, betrayal, and the human cost of seeking truth.

  • love
  • jealousy
  • romance
  • betrayal
  • emotion
  • luisa laurana
Q8

How does the town's social structure work?

The town operates through a blend of politics, church authority, and petty vengeance. Old loyalties bind families together, creating an environment where appearances matter more than reality. The local power structure protects its own while ordinary residents live under constant threat.

  • small town
  • society
  • social structure
  • family loyalty
  • power dynamic
Q9

Who is Avvocato Rosello and what is his significance?

Rosello is a charismatic lawyer and local power broker who is initially treated with suspicion. He may be involved in cover-ups and uses his legal position to influence proceedings. He represents how authority can be manipulated to protect the guilty rather than serve justice.

  • rosello
  • lawyer
  • power broker
  • legal authority
  • cover-up
Q10

What is the overall tone and mood of the film?

The film has a firmly dark tone established by sinister forces that crush any hope for justice. The intensity remains high due to constant threat of violence. The ending is bleak, depicting the triumph of corruption and the community's complicit silence in the face of truth.

  • dark tone
  • bleak
  • crime drama
  • intense
  • noir
  • mood

Movie threads

More Movies Like We Still Kill the Old Way, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes We Still Kill the Old Way tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Obsessive thrillers about fighting corruption like in We Still Kill the Old Way

A lone investigator's quest for truth is systematically crushed by powerful, sinister forces. If you liked the tense atmosphere of We Still Kill the Old Way, you'll find similar movies here. These stories feature protagonists obsessively investigating a dark truth, only to be met with overwhelming opposition from corrupt institutions, leading to a feeling of grim inevitability.

  • paranoid
  • sinister
  • oppressive
  • gritty
  • anxious
  • futile
  • Tone: dark, cynical, tense
  • Pacing: steady, methodical
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a linear investigation that deepens in paranoia and danger. The protagonist, often an outsider or intellectual, gradually realizes their pursuit is not just dangerous but futile against a deeply entrenched, unified opposition. The story arc is one of disillusionment and defeat.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared theme of an individual's moral crusade being brutally extinguished by collective, systemic power. They create a specific, cynical mood where the tension comes from watching a protagonist walk knowingly towards their own doom.

Moody crime dramas with a sinister atmosphere like We Still Kill the Old Way

Stories where the setting itself feels like a threat, oozing with moral decay and violence. Discover films that share the heavy, anxious mood of We Still Kill the Old Way. If you liked the film's portrayal of a community suffocated by the Mafia and corruption, you'll find similar gritty settings and stories of social decay here.

  • gritty
  • oppressive
  • sinister
  • anxious
  • cynical
  • crime-ridden
  • Tone: dark, oppressive, sinister
  • Pacing: steady, atmospheric build
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is often a crime or mystery, but the primary focus is on the mood and the environment. Characters navigate a world where traditional morality is absent, and survival often requires complicity. The pacing is steady, building a sense of encroaching doom rather than frantic action.

Why they belong together: This thread groups films based on their shared visceral feeling—a palpable sense of place and mood. The similarities are less about specific plot points and more about the immersive, cynical, and threatening atmosphere that defines the viewing experience.

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Every angle

We Still Kill the Old Way (1967) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about We Still Kill the Old Way in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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