Lesson for Modern Filmmakers

So many brilliant, subtle touches in this movie --- no need to beat the viewer over the head with explanations or repeated insistence on noticing things, like in today's movies ---

For instance, the opening sequence, where Caine narrates that he's hailed a cab, while in reality they continue to whiz past him --- or the criminal line-up of priests, looking almost absolutely identical (like a herd of Guido Sarduccis !!!) --- or else the final punchline / payoff of the genteel ladies holding individual letters, calling for the election of Cipolla, and what happens after the camera tips over --- or else Mickey Rooney looking at himself in his mirror, and then opening the mirror to reveal, well, another mirror !

J'ai l'oeil AMÉRICAIN !