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Crime film

Closed Circuit (1978): Cast & Plot

Closed Circuit (1978) movie poster

Closed Circuit is a 1978 crime film directed by Giuliano Montaldo, starring Attilio Duse as Direttore del cinema, Laura D'Angelo and Giuliano Gemma. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes.

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Closed Circuit (1978) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Genre
Crime
Original language
Italian
Studio
RAI
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Closed Circuit About?

The premise of Closed Circuit without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

At a local cinema, patrons watch a Spaghetti Western matinee. During the on‑screen duel’s climax, a real bullet hits a viewer. With no obvious leads and the entire audience now suspects, investigators lock the doors, seat everyone again and replay the film, hoping the second viewing will reveal the true killer.

Closed Circuit Themes & Keywords

· 9 tags
  • panic
  • shooting gun indoor
  • homosexuals
  • murder in cinema
  • movie theater
  • movie reality crossover
  • spaghetti western
  • giallo
  • prostitute
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Cast & crew

Closed Circuit Cast & Characters

Attilio Duse leads the cast as Direttore del cinema, with Laura D'Angelo as Maschera al cinema and Giuliano Gemma as Il pistolero. Directed by Giuliano Montaldo; 43 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Closed Circuit

· 39 more
Show all 43 cast members
Plot

Closed Circuit Plot Summary

What happens in Closed Circuit from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 5-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

Inside a crowded cinema, the mood hums with the ordinary mix of anticipation and anonymity: adults and children, secretive glances in the back rows, and staff prepped for the showing of a Western that has no age restriction, according to the box office clerk. The film unfolds with the cadence of a simple but riveting duel between on-screen rivals, and in the dim light the audience becomes a tapestry of private stories, each watching with its own reasons and shadows. The first spark of trouble arrives not in the plot but in the room: a man seated beside a young couple is suddenly shot, the violence spilling from the screen into the audience as if the gunfire had somehow crossed over.

Full summary

The whole story of Closed Circuit, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Closed Circuit?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

In the film, what type of movie is being screened when the real murder occurs?

Details

Closed Circuit Also Known As

5 alternative titles, including “Disparen al espectador” and “Замкнутый круг”.

Also known as
  • Disparen al espectador
  • Замкнутый круг
  • Uzavřený kruh
  • 封闭范围
  • Der tödliche Kreis

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FAQ

Closed Circuit FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, post-credit scenes and language of Closed Circuit, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Closed Circuit?

Closed Circuit runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Closed Circuit released?

Closed Circuit was released on February 22, 1978.

Who directed Closed Circuit?

Closed Circuit was directed by Giuliano Montaldo.

More films by Giuliano Montaldo

Who is in the cast of Closed Circuit?

Closed Circuit stars Attilio Duse as Direttore del cinema, Laura D'Angelo as Maschera al cinema and Giuliano Gemma as Il pistolero, among 43 credited actors.

Does Closed Circuit have a post-credit scene?

No. Closed Circuit has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Closed Circuit in?

The original language of Closed Circuit is Italian.

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