Roma città libera (1946)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Marcello Pagliero

Writers:

Ennio Flaiano (story)
Ennio Flaiano (writer) ...

Release Date:

17 December 1946 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Post War Italy | Italy | Rome Italy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Andrea Checchi	...	Man attempting suicide
Valentina Cortese	...	Typist
Nando Bruno	...	Thief
Vittorio De Sica	...	Distinguished gentleman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marisa Merlini	...	The ex-fiancee
Gar Moore	...	American soldier

Also Known As:

Roma città libera (La notte porta consiglio) (Italy)
Rome: Free City (International: English title) (informal literal title)

Runtime:

81 min

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Pao Film

Not a major work but still a delight

Not a major work but still a delight. Not as sombre as other Italian films of the period this simple tale is well told as characters seemingly meet for the first time as we too meet them. And there is a fluidity here as they mix and mingle, taking it in turn with each other, making friends and enemies with ease. There is of course an undertow, a realisation that with the war just over, happiness is tempered by poverty and apprehension as to the future. The rain soaked streets of an almost deserted Roman night add both a poignancy and romanticism to the action as a thief becomes a good guy, a good guy a thief, the cops incompetent, the ministers barely keeping their act together and a pearl necklace or two changing hands at a good pace. Oh and throughout wanders Vittorio De Sica, who having lost his memory, spends the film, to great effect, asking all if they know who he is. Nobody even cares.