A ruthless social climber, Richard Marlow convinces his lover, Milly, to kill his uncle, Randolph Killenberg, the president of a successful financial company. Following what the police conclude to be a suicide, the company’s stock falls, so Richard can buy enough to get a majority on the board of directors. In order to do this, he uses two million fake dollars which he has exchanged for four hundred thousand real dollars; but, just as the deal is about to be finalised with the gangsters he declares himself insolvent, blaming Milly for having run off with the money: Unaware of any of this, Milly is killed by the gangsters.
Having managed now successfully disposed of his accomplice, Richard now sets his sights on his brother, Ernest, who opposes his ascent to the top of the Killenberg Finance Company.
His competitor for the presidency of the company is Philip, son of the late Randolph, an avid gambler burdened with debts. In order to compromise him with the threat of a scandal and permanently deal with him, Richard, feigning assistance, procures some fake dollars for him.
In the meantime, Marlow has married Marion, Philip’s sister, forcing his widow Killenberg to support his appointment as president in the Council.
Organising a party in his honour, Philip invites Richard to a skeet shooting competition and reveals to him that he knows all the crimes he has committed and finally, to avenge his father’s death, mortally wounds him. All of the family members present, including Marlow’s sister, accept Philip’s version of events as the truth: Richard’s death was an accident.
Locandina
(Also released with the alternative title Piacere e Massacro)
ItaliaTaglia State Censorship Certificate
Fotobuste
References
Availability
Unavailable; no known release since its theatrical run, although I do believe there is a confirmed report of a print deposited in one of the state film archives – which is available for viewing onsite only.
One Man and His Droid 