Sacco and Vanzetti

PG

1971

2h 0m

History

Drama

List

70%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

87%

Audience Score

100+ Ratings

Italian immigrant shoemaker Nicola Sacco (Riccardo Cucciolla) and fish peddler Bartolomeo Vanzetti (Gian Maria Volonte) live and work in 1920s Boston, and are known to have anarchist beliefs. When they are accused of robbing and killing two men at a shoe factory, the men's political leanings are used as evidence in the trial against them. But defense attorney Fred Moore (Milo O'Shea) is convinced of their innocence, so he defends them in one of the most polarizing trials in U.S. history.

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Kevin Crust

Los Angeles Times

... the 81-minute film contains a surprising amount of information about the two Italian-born immigrants who were tried, convicted and executed in Boston amid accusations of grave injustice.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 9, 2007

Full Review

Vincent Canby

New York Times

... an Italian film that elects to play on our best prejudices rather than make a reasonable or eloquent plea for truth.

Rated: 2/5

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

I was complaining a month ago that this has been a lousy year for movies, now all of a sudden there's a rush of good ones, and this is one of the best.

Rated: 3.5/4

Oct 23, 2004

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A large-scale narrative feature...Complete with a theme song by Joan Baez.

Jan 23, 2023

Full Review

Sarah Boslaugh

TheArtsStl

...there’s a lot to enjoy in this film, including the mix of factual content and melodrama, well-staged tableaux, and committed acting performances.

Rated: 6/10

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Peter Canavese

Celluloid Dreams

A well done and thoughtful version of a damning American story about immigrants railroaded, unjustly accused, arrested and tried.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 4, 2022

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Tony S

A well made but a self indulgent courtroom drama with an iconic soundtrack. With bitter showcase of one of the most egregious examples of injustice of the 20th century. Where law can be easily turned into an instrument of ruthless political whacking and grand standing. However, it is still a very one sided and a little bit overacted portrayal of everyone who isn't on the side of the pair of the anarchists. It's a very caricature characterization, that barely reflects their words or actions of these people in 1921. Some might even call it fist pumping leftist propaganda. That already finished all the thinking for you in this matter the moment you started watching it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/01/21

Full Review

Audience Member

This was the most emotional I got while listening to a movie. It may not be 100% accurate, but it was a joy to watch. I would recommend it to those who aren't afraid of going to the older films and want to feel emotional.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ennio Morricone (x Joan Baez)'s soundtrack was more impressive.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Can't expect from most american critics to like this movie, since it attacks the very fundaments of the american belief in freedom and denounces its contradictions.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie tries to create empathy in the viewer exclusively through the suffering of the protagonists and their loved ones and emotionally charged monologues, also emphasizes beyond measure the bias of the American legal system of the time. Despite all, the judicial part is exciting, as well as the political one. The acting is generally good the soundtrack to remember. Overall discreet

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This movie tries to create empathy in the viewer exclusively through the suffering of the protagonists and their loved ones and emotionally charged monologues, also emphasizes beyond measure the bias of the American legal system of the time. Despite all, the judicial part is exciting, as well as the political one. The acting is generally good the soundtrack to remember. Overall discreet

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

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Giuliano Montaldo

Director

Gian Maria Volonté

Bartolomeo Vanzetti

Riccardo Cucciolla

Nicola Sacco

Cyril Cusack

Frederick Katzmann

Milo O'Shea

Fred Moore

Rosanna Fratello

Rosa Sacco

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Synopsis

Italian immigrant shoemaker Nicola Sacco (Riccardo Cucciolla) and fish peddler Bartolomeo Vanzetti (Gian Maria Volonte) live and work in 1920s Boston, and are known to have anarchist beliefs. When they are accused of robbing and killing two men at a shoe factory, the men's political leanings are used as evidence in the trial against them. But defense attorney Fred Moore (Milo O'Shea) is convinced of their innocence, so he defends them in one of the most polarizing trials in U.S. history.

Director: Giuliano Montaldo
Rating: PG
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2021
Runtime: 2h 0m

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