A pious young man is led into temptation by his businessman father in Mario Bolognini’s 1963 Corruption, now on Blu-ray from Radiance.
Young Stefano has graduated from high school and is ready to take the next steps in his life. For him, that means entering seminary to join the clergy. His heart tells him that’s what he wants. At least as he thinks right now. But it is his choice. Everyone else? They want him to do anything but. A teacher mentor at school gives him a book about atheism (from one of his businessman dad’s competitors) and tells him he’s wasting his brain. But more importantly, and the central conflict of Mario Bolognini’s 1963 film: his father, Leonardo, not only thinks his son is wasting himself, but is determined to stop it. Thus, our titular Corruption. Thus, the business magnate sets out to break his son by taking him on a trip on his private yacht… with his radiant and sexy mistress, girlfriend, something (it’s 60s Italy, so shrug, natch).
But who should listen to the father anyway? He’s a sleazy jerk and a grump who fails to listen to anyone else. But it’s fascinating watching Alain Cuny, of La Dolce Vita, as Leonardo butt against Jacques Perrin as Stefano. Both are strong characters with conviction and control. Stefano, being the good boy he is, wants to believe and understand his father, to find him loving and ready to help him. Leonardo is older and more scheming, planning, and able to control the situation and see the long term. It’s interesting to see the little mask he might wear for Stefano break as the film progresses.
But it’s not just directly good versus hidden evil. Stefano is a little self-righteous and stubborn (like his dad, but in a different way), so it’s clearly not just a “destroy a nice boy.” There’s an interesting “I’m better than you and all these” in his speeches and righteous statements. Almost like he’s trying to continually convince himself this is the right path. Hints of being ready for corruption?
Since everyone’s out to prove his son is just as bad as the rest of us, a representative of the shifting sixties culture in Italy, from repression and Catholicism to personal and sexual freedom, as seen in other Radiance releases like Magnificent Cuckold (although the ages are reversed, an interesting touch), jerk of a dad does his best to tempt and tryst Stephano? What worse way than a second act on a secluded boat with the dad and his mistress, there to tempt and flirt. Is Stefano as weak as anyone says, or will he hold? In the center is Rosanna Schiaffino as Adriana. She’s similarly fantastic, playing the sexy temptress but not a plot device for Leonardo’s corruption of his son; she’s fully developed and performed, speaking to how women are used and abused by this society.
In many ways, Corruption feels like a morality play. It’s very playlike, with tight, claustrophobic shots, gorgeous black-and-white locations, and a handful of people throwing ideas and arguments back and forth. Lots of arguments. It’s a film built on everyone continually trying to convince Stephano that he’s wrong, to do what they want, and ignore his inner drives. But who is right and who is wrong? How does a righteous young man deal with a possible amorality in a capitalist society (as Act Three moves from the boat to business)?
Mauro Bolognini’s Corruption is an interesting film. There’s something sad in the turmoil of a boy on the edge of adulthood who has to decide what comes next, and everyone around him is against him. The way it explores that, along with parental relationships, one’s own struggles, and Italy’s broader shifts, makes a solid picture.
The Package and Presentation
Radiance puts Corruption on a single-disc Blu-ray, the first non-dubbed release in English-speaking countries. The disc has the title in white on a blue background. It fits in the thick, clear Blu-ray case. The reversible sleeve features original and new art by Time Tomorrow for you to choose from. The spine number is 195, limited to 3000 copies. A booklet fits in the case. The visuals are a 2k restoration and look great, using black and white to good effect and great detail. The audio is uncompressed mono. In Italian with English subtitles.
The Features
Sadly, Corruption is a little light on this front.
Adrian Wootton (new)
The film critic and programmer talks about the shifting culture, cinematic and in Italy itself, of the time and how Corruption (like Magnificent Cuckold) bridges old and new Italy and Bolognini’s work and collaborations. (25m)
Alfredo Bini and Manolo Bolognini (archival)
The producer and the director’s brother talk about Bolognini and the troubles of making the film. Didn’t really grab me and came off as a bunch of noise ot me. (17m)
Booklet
The 20-page stapled booklet has the normal plus After the Boom (2026) by Marco Natoli. The essay examines the film and others in light of Italy’s economy starting to wane, along with themes across Bolognini’s filmography.
Final Thoughts
Corruption, directed by Mauro Bolognini, is a fantastic film of, well, its title, in the twist of a dad trying to ruin his son for his own needs. The pair play off each other with strong writing and performances. The film looks great, although the features are slight. A solid look at the Radiance release.