Skip to content
1981
  1. Home
  2. A-Z Publications
  3. Journal of Italian Cinema & Media Studies
  4. Online First Articles
  5. Online First Article
image of Giallo! Going through the History of Italian Television Crime Drama
file format pdf download PDF

Abstract

This editorial provides an overview of the historical development of crime dramas on Italian television from the early years to contemporary challenges, while sketching many of the complexities of the genre. With references to a large number of crime dramas, to the contributions included in this Special Issue and to relevant literature, the representation of investigators and criminals in Italian television is scrutinized in its most distinguishing features: from genre tropes and hybridizations to literary adaptations and digital transmedia aspects; from leading male and female characters to central and peripheral locations; from the global circulation of local content to the changing cultural and societal representations. As a result, Italian TV crime drama is shown as a field of constant negotiation where varied and satisfying forms of balance have been experimented.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme (Award 770151)
  • The Italian Ministry of University and Research
© 2025 Intellect Ltd
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jicms_00341_2
2025-10-14
2025-12-06
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/10.1386/jicms_00341_2/JICMS_14_3-4_ed_Barra_Re.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1386/jicms_00341_2&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Anon. (1965), ‘Il difficile agosto del tenente Sheridan’, Corriere d’informazione, 14–15 August, p. 9.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. A. F. (1965), ‘È tempo di gialli’, Corriere d’informazione, 14–15 August, p. 9.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. A come Andromeda (1972, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Baby (2018–20, Italy: Netflix).
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Badley, Linda, Nestingen, Andrew and Seppälä, Jaakko (eds) (2020), Nordic Noir, Adaptation, Appropriation, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Bang Bang Baby (2022, Italy: Amazon Prime Video).
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Barra, Luca (2020), ‘Commissari, camorristi, e poi ancora commissari: Modelli produttivi e distributivi della fiction italiana crime contemporanea’, in M. P. Ammirati and P. Ortoleva (eds), Sulle tracce del crimine: Viaggio nel giallo e nero Rai. Il catalogo, Rome: Rai Com, pp. 177–88.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Barra, Luca and Scaglioni, Massimo (2015), ‘Saints, cops and camorristi: Editorial policies and production models of Italian TV fiction’, SERIES: International Journal of TV Serial Narratives, 1:1, pp. 65–76, https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2421-454X/5115.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Barra, Luca and Scaglioni, Massimo (eds) (2021), A European Television Fiction Renaissance: Premium Production Models and Transnational Circulation, Abingdon: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Bella da morire (2020, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Benvenuti, Giuliana (2017), Il brand Gomorra: Dal romanzo alla serie TV, Bologna: Il Mulino.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Bondebjerg, Ib, Redvall, Eva Novrup, Helles, Rasmus, Lai, Signe Sophus, Søndergaard, Henrik and Astrupgaard, Cecilie (eds) (2017), Transnational European Television Drama: Production, Genres and Audiences, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Bruni, David (2017), ‘“La tua cultura non è che una tinta”: Gli “equivoci” del giallo nel primo cinema sonoro (1930–1944)’, Bianco e Nero, 587, pp. 47–65.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Buonanno, Milly (2012a), Italian TV Drama & Beyond: Stories from the Soil, Stories from the Sea, Bristol: Intellect.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Buonanno, Milly (2012b), La fiction italiana: Narrazioni televisive e identità nazionale, Rome and Bari: Laterza.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Cinque storie inquietanti (1987, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Circeo (2022, Italy: Paramount).
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Coviello, Massimiliano and Re, Valentina (2021a), ‘Geografia dei “margini”: L’utilizzo delle location periferiche nella serialità Rai di genere crime’, L’avventura: International Journal of Italian Film and Media Landscapes, 2, pp. 257–78, https://doi.org/10.17397/102717.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Coviello, Massimiliano and Re, Valentina (2021b), ‘Translocal landscapes: La porta rossa and the use of peripheral locations in contemporary Italian TV crime drama’, Academic Quarter, 22, pp. 60–78, https://doi.org/10.5278/ojs.academicquarter.vi22.6601.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. D’Amelio, Elena Maria and Re, Valentina (2023), ‘A “bottom-up” approach to transcultural identities: Petra and women detectives in Italian TV crime drama’, in M. Dall’Asta, M. Jacques, F. Pagello and A. Pepper (eds), Contemporary European Crime Fiction, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 229–51.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Distretto di polizia (2000–12, Italy: Mediaset).
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Don Matteo (2000–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  23. Donna detective (2007–10, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  24. ESP (1973, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  25. Extra (1976, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  26. Fiori sopra l’inferno – I casi di Teresa Battaglia (2023, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  27. Gamma (1975, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  28. Giallo (1987–88, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Giallo club: Invito al poliziesco (1959–61, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  30. Glynis (1963, US: CBS).
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Gomorra – La serie (2014–21, Italy: Sky).
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Grasso, Aldo (2019), Storia critica della televisione italiana, vol. 3, Milan: Il Saggiatore.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Guerra, Michele, Martin, Sara and Rimini, Stefania (eds) (2018), Universo Gomorra: Da libro a film, da film a serie, Milan and Udine: Mimesis.
     [Google Scholar]
  34. Hansen, Kim Toft and Re, Valentina (2024), Peripheral Locations in European TV Crime Series, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  35. Hansen, Kim Toft, Peacock, Stephen and Turnbull, Sue (eds) (2018), European Television Crime Drama and Beyond, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  36. I bastardi di Pizzofalcone (2017–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Il cacciatore (2018–21, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Il commissario De Vincenzi (1974–77, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  39. Il commissario Montalbano (1999–2021, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  40. Il maresciallo Rocca (1996–2005, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  41. Imma Tataranni – Sostituto procuratore (2019–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  42. Jenkins, Henry (2006), Convergence Culture, New York: New York University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. King, Stewart (2020), ‘Place’, in J. Allan, J. Gulddal, S. King and A. Pepper (eds), The Routledge Companion to Crime Fiction, Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 211–18.
     [Google Scholar]
  44. L’alligatore (2020, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  45. L’ispettore Coliandro (2006–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  46. La donna di fiori (1965, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  47. La legge di Lidia Poët (2023–present, Italy: Netflix).
     [Google Scholar]
  48. La piovra (1984–2001, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  49. La porta rossa (2016–23, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  50. La squadra (2000–07, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  51. La vedova e il piedipiatti (1979, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  52. Le avventure di Laura Storm (1965–66, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  53. Le donne del tenente Sheridan (1965–72, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  54. Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (1964–72, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  55. Le indagini di Lolita Lobosco (2021–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  56. Linda e il brigadiere (1997–2000, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  57. Makari (2021–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  58. Maltese – Il romanzo del commissario (2017, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  59. McCabe, Janet and Akass, Kim (eds) (2007), Quality TV: Contemporary American Television and Beyond, London: I.B. Tauris.
     [Google Scholar]
  60. McNutt, Myles (2021), Television’s Spatial Capital: Location, Relocation, Dislocation, Abingdon: Routledge.
     [Google Scholar]
  61. Mittell, Jason (2015), Complex TV: The Poetics of Contemporary Television Storytelling, New York: New York University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  62. Monterossi: La serie (2022–present, Italy: Amazon Prime Video).
     [Google Scholar]
  63. Morreale, Emiliano (2020), La mafia immaginaria, Rome: Donzelli.
     [Google Scholar]
  64. Morsch, Thomas and Re, Valentina (2021), ‘Introduction: European identity in popular television crime series’, Journal of European Popular Culture, 12:2, pp. 93–102, https://doi.org/10.1386/jepc_00031_2.
     [Google Scholar]
  65. Nero Wolfe (1969–71, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  66. Nilsson, Louise, Damrosch, David and D’haen, Theo (eds) (2017), Crime Fiction as World Literature, London: Bloomsbury.
     [Google Scholar]
  67. Non mi lasciare (2022, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  68. Non uccidere (2015–18, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  69. Perry Mason (1957–66, US: CBS).
     [Google Scholar]
  70. Petra (2020–present, Italy: Sky).
     [Google Scholar]
  71. Quo vadis, baby? (2008, Italy: Sky).
     [Google Scholar]
  72. Ravveduto, Marcello (2019), Lo spettacolo della mafia, Turin: Edizioni Gruppo Abele.
     [Google Scholar]
  73. Re, Valentina (2020), ‘Crime sì, ma “di qualità”: Sulla circolazione transnazionale del prodotto televisivo”, Imago, 11:21, pp. 169–83.
     [Google Scholar]
  74. Re, Valentina and Spalletta, Marica (2023), ‘Unsuitable jobs for women: Women’s behind-the-scenes employment and female on-screen representation in Italian TV crime drama’, Comunicazioni sociali, 1, pp. 82–97, https://doi.org/10.26350/001200_000177.
     [Google Scholar]
  75. Renga, Dana (2016), ‘Gomorra. La serie: Beyond realism’, The Italianist, 36:2, pp. 287–92, https://doi.org/10.1080/02614340.2016.1176711.
     [Google Scholar]
  76. Renga, Dana (2019), Watching Sympathetic Perpetrators on Italian Television, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
     [Google Scholar]
  77. RIS: Delitti imperfetti (2005–09, Italy: Mediaset).
     [Google Scholar]
  78. Ritorna il tenente Sheridan (1963, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  79. Roberts, Les (2016), ‘Landscapes in the frame: Exploring the Hinterlands of the British procedural drama’, New Review of Film and Television Studies, 14:3, pp. 364–85, https://doi.org/10.1080/17400309.2016.1189712.
     [Google Scholar]
  80. Rocco Schiavone (2016–present, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  81. Romanzo criminale – La serie (2008–10, Italy: Sky).
     [Google Scholar]
  82. Scacco matto (1980–81, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  83. Scaglioni, Massimo and Barra, Luca (eds) (2013), Tutta un’altra fiction: La serialità pay in Italia e nel mondo. Il modello Sky, Rome: Carocci.
     [Google Scholar]
  84. Sheridan squadra omicidi (1967, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  85. Sopravvissuti (2022, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  86. Squadra antimafia: Palermo oggi (2009–16, Italy: Mediaset).
     [Google Scholar]
  87. Suburra: La serie (2017–20, Italy: Netflix).
     [Google Scholar]
  88. Telefono giallo (1987–92, Italy: Rai).
     [Google Scholar]
  89. The Avengers (1961–69, UK: BBC).
     [Google Scholar]
  90. The Bad Guy (2022, Italy: Amazon Prime Video).
     [Google Scholar]
  91. The Good Mothers (2023, Italy: Disney+).
     [Google Scholar]
  92. Turnbull, Sue (2014), The TV Crime Drama, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1386/jicms_00341_2
Loading
  • Article Type: Editorial
Keywords: sceneggiato ; crime fiction ; seriality ; streaming media services ; Italian television ; TV crime series ; television series ; television history

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test