Psychopath (Italian: Sigpress contro Scotland Yard, German: Mister Zehn Prozent - Miezen und Moneten) is a 1968 film directed by Guido Zurli [it].[1] The film is about Sigpress (Francisco Martinez Celeiro), a thief who steals jewels which he then returns to the owners in order to collect money as a reward. He is being tracked by Scotland Yard when he learns that the gem called the Eye of Allah is being escorted from London to Paris. On attempting to steal the jewel, he finds it's a fake which leads to his own investigation.
Psychopath's script is credited to Theo Maria Werner [de] and Arpad De Riso [it].[2] It is actually written by Riso and an uncredited Enzo Gicca Palli.[2] Werner Hauff and Zurli are also credited as co-writers but accordingly to Zurli, their presence was nominal and only added per co-production needs.[3]
Guido Zurli was aware of cast member Klaus Kinski's behavior on set, and devised a plan to keep him behaved.[4] When becoming aware that he was approaching the set, Zurli began acting mad by throwing way the script, yelling and kicking floodlights.[4] This was a plan to have Kinski believe that he was even more outrageous than he could be.[4]
Psychopath was released in Italy on 15 April 1968.[1] It was shown in Germany on 25 April 1969.[1] In Germany a novelization of the film was written by Mike Widborg (Peter Leukefeld) and published by Moewig under the title Mister 10% in 1969.[5]
Reception
Italian film historian and critic Roberto Curti found the film as "ultimately quite enjoyable" and that it "has an ironic punch with most of its contemporaries lacked"[2]
Curti, Roberto (2016). Diabolika: Supercriminals, Superheroes and the Comic Book Universe in Italian Cinema. Midnight Marquee Press. ISBN978-1-936168-60-6.
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