THE INNOCENT SLEEP
UK, 1996, 110 minutes, Colour.
Rupert Graves, Annabella Sciorra, Michael Gambon, Graham Crowden, Franco Nero, John Hannah.
Directed by Scott Mitchell.
The Innocent Sleep is based on the murder of Italian banker, Roberto Calvi, in 1982. He was called God’s Banker (and an Italian film was made about his case under that name). He was from the Banco Ambrosiano in Milan and was responsible for Vatican finances. The background of the story was Italian Mafia connections as well as infiltration of Masonic Lodges and financial scandals.
Franco Nero has a cameo role as a sinister presence – whether of the Mafia or of the Masonic Lodge. He is responsible for the death of a financier, a hanging under Tower Bridge just as Roberto Calvi was. He is assisted by a detective-inspector, played in typical fashion by Michael Gambon. Other aspects of the plot are rather predictable with Rupert Graves as a disillusioned unemployed young man, alienated from his wife, sleeping out and witnessing the murder. Graham Crowden is a former journalist and an alcoholic who helps him, especially in contact with a journalist played by Annabella Sciorra. John Hannah is her assistant.
The film was quite atmospheric, always interesting even in the witness to a murder and his being pursued by the criminals (who turn out to be the police) is familiar enough, as is the resolution and the somewhat cynical ending as the Italian criminal is seen hobnobbing with socialites in a cruise on the Thames.
The film was produced by Matthew Vaughn who went on to produce Guy Ritchie’s Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch and was to move into direction, in a well-acclaimed gangster film, Layer Cake (2004).
1. Interesting film? Thriller? The British tone, the Italian connections?
2. The London settings, night and day, especially night? The musical score and the chorale work?
3. London as a character, Tower Bridge, the people living out on the streets, the tent city? The professional world of the newspapers, of the police precincts?
4. The background story of Roberto Calvi, God’s Banker, the Masonic infiltration of the lodge, the loss of Italian finances, the Vatican connection?
5. Alan Terry, young, unemployed, alienated from his wife, his life on the streets? Friendship with George and the other street people? His place being taken by the surly street man, his having to sleep under Tower Bridge, awakened, watching the hanging, betraying himself with noise?
6. The initial abduction, Matheson, the sinister Cavani and his supervising the victim, putting bricks in his coat pocket, the hanging? The other thugs? Their hearing the noise, the search, Matheson and his smoking, Alan and his ability to hide above the inspector?
7. Alan, as a character, phoning his wife, the going to the police, the support of George, the journalist, explanations, her caution, his providing evidence, the mistake about Inspector Stephens, his being chased, hiding in the journalist’s apartment, the fire in the tent city, George in hospital, the realisation of the betrayal, Matheson taking his documents? The phone call, the evidence of the cloth, his mistaking Matheson’s identity, the final confrontation with Matheson?
8. George, the genial character, the drinking, on the streets, his relationship with the journalist, persuading her that there was a story, giving the information to Matheson, the fire, burning, in the hospital, his grief at the betrayal? The other young man and the pressure on him from Matheson?
9. The journalist, at work, her bosses, assistants, the interviews with Alan, testing him out, being cautious, letting him stay at her place?
10. The various people and personalities at the newspaper? The police? The journalist going to the police station and being met by red tape and bureaucracy?
11. The unravelling of the case, Matheson and his pursuit of Alan, getting the clues, the final phone call? His explaining himself and the mistake? The thugs, his being followed as he followed Alan, about to kill Alan and his being shot, executed?
12. The final confrontation, the journalist and her rescuing Alan, the future? The society function, Cavani and his presence - socialising and respectability?
