Character Relationship Map: Illustrious Corpses

Characters

• Inspector Amerigo Rogas (played by Lino Ventura) — protagonist

  The lead police inspector assigned to investigate a series of judge murders in Palermo. He uncovers political corruption and government conspiracies while being pressured to blame leftist terrorists....

• Chief of Police (played by Tino Carraro) — protagonist

  A high-ranking police official who covers up the initial murders by instructing others to leave the judges alone. He later orchestrates a cover-up by publicly blaming Inspector Rogas for the death of...

• Madame Cres (played by Maria Carta) — supporting

  The wife of Cres, a pharmacist wrongfully convicted by the murdered judges. Rogas theorizes that she framed her husband, though she is not directly seen or interacted with in the investigation.

• Security Minister (played by Fernando Rey) — minor
• Supreme Court President (played by Max von Sydow) — minor

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Inspector Amerigo Rogas → Madame Cres (Unknown Investigator And Suspect's Wife) — Rogas develops a theory that Madame Cres framed her husband, though the reference says she is not directly seen or interacted with during the investigation.

  Rogas investigates Cres, a pharmacist convicted of trying to poison his wife, and concludes that Cres was probably framed by her. The character list i...

• Inspector Amerigo Rogas → Security Minister (Conflict Investigator And Political Opponent) — The plot describes Rogas encountering a minister whose political strategy conflicts with Rogas's effort to uncover the truth; the reference does not establish that this minister is the listed Security...

  At Pattos's party, Rogas speaks with the Minister of Justice, who says his party will eventually form a coalition with the Communist Party and prosecu...

• Inspector Amerigo Rogas → Supreme Court President (Conflict Investigator And Suspected Target) — Rogas tries to protect Riches while investigating the conspiracy; Riches secretly monitors Rogas and is subsequently killed.

  Rogas visits the Supreme Court president, Riches, to warn him that he is likely to be the next victim. Riches later listens secretly to Rogas's conver...

• Inspector Amerigo Rogas → Chief of Police (Conflict Investigator And Cover-Up Perpetrator) — The Chief obstructs the investigation and ultimately presents a false account that makes Rogas responsible for the final killings.

  A recording captures the Chief of Police advising an anonymous listener to take it easy on the judges while Rogas is investigating. Later, the Chief p...

Story Analysis

Inspector Rogas's investigation exposes how political power turns a murder inquiry into a tool for suppressing the truth.

Plot Progression

1. The Judge Killings — Judge Vargas is murdered amid political unrest, and Rogas is assigned to investigate. Two more judges are killed, while Rogas uncovers indications of corruption and follows the trail to Cres.
2. A Case Redirected — Another judge is killed, and conflicting witness accounts complicate the investigation. Rogas is demoted and ordered to help attribute the crimes to leftist groups.
3. Power Behind the Courts — Rogas warns Riches and encounters political figures discussing future prosecution of far-left groups. His growing suspicion deepens when he is followed and a recording captures the Chief's warning abo...
4. The Conspiracy Exposed — Rogas shares his theory that the later killings are being used to justify political repression. Riches is shot, Rogas discovers his phone is tapped, and he and Amar are killed at the museum.
5. Truth Buried — The Chief publicly assigns blame to Rogas and claims he committed suicide. The Communist Party accepts the official account to avert open confrontation, leaving the truth unspoken.