Il Fornaretto di Venezia (US TV title: The Scapegoat) is a 1963 Italian film directed by Duccio Tessari who co-wrote screenplay with Marcello Fondato, based on novel by Francesco Dall'Ongaro. It tells the story of 16th century's Venice where a young worker is sentenced to death on the suspicion of attacking a noble.
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A buried treasure.The director has made a lot of these peplums which proliferated circa 1960.None is particularly memorable.But "IL fornaretto di Venezia" is a different matter;this is a definitely absorbing,excellent work,that would deserve to be restored to favor.Had it come from a recognized "auteur",it would be a near classic today.This is a murder mystery -Michèle Morgan plays a 1507 Miss Marple-,a whodunit, a tragedy,a thriller ..It' also the eternal fight between the high and the mighty on one side ,the poor and the humble on the other one.Charged with a noble's murder, a young baker will be judged by the Doges;what can he expect from men who 've got all Venice in their hands?A third of the movies is flashbacks ,as Morgan's investigation progresses;the elements fit together as dominos,and inexorably lead to an unbearable conclusion;unbearable for the Patricians who practice a travesty of a trial.They are wearing masks as they bring in the verdict.The use of Venice settings is admirable:a duel at night ,strange meetings in tortuous streets,sumptuous palaces,the magnificent clock who rings the bell of doom.And above all,the director makes us feel that in the city,life goes on with its feasts,its street theater,its human pyramids:a small miracle in itself.A splendid cast ,including Jacques Perrin,Michèle Morgan,Stefania Sandrelli,Sylva Koscina shines in a political thriller which has not lost its strength today,in spite of a melodramatic ending.
It may not be a masterpiece but I find "Il Fornaretto di Venezia", a mix of thriller/romance/power and lust story set in 16th century Venice, to be one of those movies one likes to have at home and watch from time to time... Of course, you may find the props and costumes a bit 60esque (check the ladies' make-up and hairdos); some of the actors are a bit too emphatic; and the story would gain a lot if we would not get crap like "Il popolo ha innato il senso della giustizia" ("the people has an innate sense of justice", which, as history shows, is not quite true...). BUT on the whole the plot is good, concisely told, excellent music, some excellent acting too (check that young Jacques Perrin, too rarely seen in French cinema lately)... and Venice, as portrayed in the movie, ever so beautiful. It would be grand to have a newer version of it, with much of the original script, and a less moralistic and perhaps slightly more "daring" touch... I mean, we are talking about a story of love, lust, deceipt and power, so... what the hell, right?
