We Still Kill the Old Way

We Still Kill the Old Way

Year: 1967

Runtime: 99 mins

Language: Italian

Director: Elio Petri

DramaCrimeMystery

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.

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Timeline & Setting – We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)

Explore the full timeline and setting of We Still Kill the Old Way (1967). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

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

Main Characters – We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)

Meet the key characters of We Still Kill the Old Way (1967), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

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

Major Themes – We Still Kill the Old Way (1967)

Explore the central themes of We Still Kill the Old Way (1967), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying 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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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.

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Narrative Summary

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 These Movies?

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.

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Narrative Summary

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 These Movies?

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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We Still Kill the Old Way Summary

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We Still Kill the Old Way Summary

We Still Kill the Old Way Timeline

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We Still Kill the Old Way Timeline

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We Still Kill the Old Way Spoiler-Free Summary

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