A nostalgic photo from about 50 years ago has surfaced on social media, showing the set of the film ‘Pulp’, a 1972 British comedy thriller that was almost entirely shot in Malta. Several other photos showing the cast and crew filming in various local scenes can be found in various online archives[link] – this one shows the cast shooting a scene on the roof of the Girgenti Palace, found in the outskirts of Siggiewi.

The renowned veteran actor Michael Caine, known for his eight-decade-long career, having starred in popular films such as Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, can be seen seated in the centre of the photograph, wearing glasses and smoking a cigarette.

Sitting beside Michael Caine in the photo is another cinema giant, Mickey Rooney, who had a prolific career involving over 300 films, from the ‘Night at the Museum’ franchise to the classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.

Girgenti Palace was built in 1625 during the time of the Knights of St John, as the summer residence of Inquisitor Onorato Visconti, for which reason it is still sometimes referred to as the Inquisitor’s Palace. It is now the official summer residence of the Prime Minister of Malta.

Aside from the palace in Siggiewi, ‘Pulp’ featured several other familiar locations in both Malta and Gozo, including Balluta Buildings, the Grand Harbour, Hagar Qim, Marsa Creek, Mtarfa, Palazzo Parisio in Naxxar, the Parish Church of Mellieha, Ramla Bay in Gozo, Salini Road and Verdala Palace.

Have you ever watched the 1972 classic ‘Pulp’?