Slap the Monster on Page One (original title Sbatti il mostro in prima pagina) is a 1972 film by Marco Bellocchio of I pugni in tasca fame.
It is dedicated to the Italian anni di piombo, when the radical left was leading an intense fight against the system. The elections are nearing and left activists attack the premises of the milanese newspaper Il Giornale (meaning The Newspaper in Italian). Simultaneously Maria Grazia, a teenage girl, is murdered. One of the journalists from Il Giornale, Bizanti (Gian Maria Volonte), discovers that a lover of that girl, Mario, was a young adult leftist activist, one of those who attacked the newspaper. Mario's older lover on whom he cheated with the girlexposes the falseness of his alibi out of jealousie.
Mario is arrested and Il giornale promotes him as the specimen of the depraved left in order to secure the win of the right in the election. But then a new information appears which might mean that Mario is innocent. But will it hit the pages of the papers and influence the outcome of the forthcoming election?
Tropes
- Author Filibuster: Many speeches by Bizanti, played by Gian Maria Volonte actually serve to express Bellocchio's views of the printed press and its role in the manipulation of the public.
- Blatant Lies: Rita Zigai at first denies having sent any letters to Il Giornale. Of course soon she recognises that it was her letter.
- Madonna-Whore Complex: The actual murderer suffers of that. He at times idolises Maria Grazia when claims that she was a virgin then denigrates her when recognises that she was really getting around ignoring only him.
- No Ending: The film ends with the church service for the murdered girl. It is unclear what the outcome of the election will be and who will be punished for the murder.
- One-Steve Limit: Sort of subverted with Mario Boni the suspect and his lover Maria Grazia Martini.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: Invoked by one policeman who says to Mario that it is one case if one kills the girl and the other if he also rapes her.
- Really Gets Around: Poor Maria Grazia though the autopsy states that she is a virgin because her father is an influential doctor.
- Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Bizanti to his wife who sincerely admires his insincere speeches on TV.
- The Reason You Suck: Bizanti gives this speech to his wife who really believes in all his tubthumping.
