The Octopus (1984)
The landmark Italian crime saga that brought the brutal reality of the mafia into living rooms across Europe for nearly two decades.
The Octopus - Series Information
- Original Title: La Piovra
- First Air Year: 1984
- Last Air Year: 2001
- Created by: Nicola Badalucco, Lucio Battistrada
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (90 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 10
- Number of Episodes: 48
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- First Air Date: March 11, 1984 (United States - TV-14), March 11, 1984 (United Kingdom - 15), March 11, 1984 (Germany - 16), March 11, 1984 (France - 12), March 11, 1984 (Australia - M), March 11, 1984 (Italy - T), March 11, 1984 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: Rai 1, Rai 2
- Alternative Titles: Allein gegen die Mafia (DE), Ośmiornica (PL), The Octopus (US)
- Production Companies: Télécip
- Production Countries: Italy, Austria, France
The Octopus - Plot
An epic crime saga of power, money, violence and corruption. The mafia controls everything through local and international networks like an octopus, and anyone who tries to bring them down pays the ultimate price.
The Octopus - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a sense of the series' gripping atmosphere.
The fight against the mafia!
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The Octopus - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Nicola Badalucco
- Lucio Battistrada
Main Cast
- Patricia Millardet
- Remo Girone
- Michele Placido
- François Périer
- Florinda Bolkan
- Bruno Cremer
- Nicole Jamet
- Luigi Diberti
- Tony Sperandeo
- Barbara De Rossi
The Octopus - FAQs
What is The Octopus about?
The Octopus is an Italian crime epic charting the brutal struggle against the Sicilian mafia. Through interconnected stories of corruption, violence, and power, the series exposes how organized crime infiltrates politics, business, and society — and the devastating cost paid by those who dare to resist it.
Who is Commissario Cattani in The Octopus?
Commissario Corrado Cattani, played by Michele Placido, is the moral heart of the early series — a tenacious police inspector who wages a near-solitary war against the mafia. His relentless pursuit of justice, and the personal tragedies it brings, made him one of Italian television's most iconic and beloved characters.
Why did Michele Placido leave The Octopus?
Michele Placido departed after Season 4, reportedly due to creative differences and a desire to pursue other projects. His character, Commissario Cattani, was written out of the story. The show continued with new protagonists, though many fans consider the Cattani seasons the definitive era of the series.
How many seasons does The Octopus have?
The Octopus ran for 10 seasons, spanning from 1984 to 2001. The series totals 48 episodes across its run, with individual seasons ranging from 2 to 7 episodes. Later seasons featured shorter episode counts as the format evolved over the show's nearly two-decade broadcast history.
Is The Octopus based on a true story?
While fictional, The Octopus draws heavily from the real history of the Sicilian Mafia and the Italian state's anti-mafia efforts in the 1980s and 1990s. The series was inspired by actual events, real investigations, and the cultural climate of the time, lending it a striking sense of authenticity and urgency.
Who composed the music for The Octopus?
The series features music by three distinguished composers: Ennio Morricone, Riz Ortolani, and Paolo Buonvino. Morricone's contributions in particular gave the show a haunting, cinematic quality that became inseparable from its identity and helped elevate it to the level of prestige television.
When did The Octopus first air?
The Octopus premiered on March 11, 1984, broadcasting on Italy's Rai 1 and Rai 2 networks. It quickly became a cultural phenomenon in Italy and across Europe, drawing massive audiences and sparking widespread public debate about organized crime and institutional corruption.
What are similar shows to The Octopus?
Fans of The Octopus may enjoy Mayor of Kingstown, Power Book II: Ghost, and The Last Don for their gritty crime drama. For thematically similar Italian or European fare, Omertà, la loi du silence and Money Mafia offer comparable explorations of organized crime and institutional corruption.
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