Bitter Rice (1949)
"Riso amaro" (original title)

Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice ... See full summary »

Director:

Giuseppe De Santis

Writers:

Corrado Alvaro, Giuseppe De Santis (screenplay),

Stars:

Vittorio Gassman, Doris Dowling, Silvana Mangano

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vittorio Gassman	...	Walter (as Vittorio Gassmann)
Doris Dowling	...	Francesca
Silvana Mangano	...	Silvana
Raf Vallone	...	Marco
Checco Rissone	...	Aristide
Nico Pepe	...	Beppe
Adriana Sivieri	...	Celeste
Lia Corelli	...	Amelia
Maria Grazia Francia	...	Gabriella
Dedi Ristori	...	Anna
Anna Maestri	...	Irene
Mariemma Bardi	...	Gianna
Maria Capuzzo	...	Giulia
Isabella Zennaro	...	Rosa
Carlo Mazzarella	...	Gianetto

Storyline

Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.

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Plot Keywords:

rice field | food in title | post war italy | thief | melodrama | 

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Taglines:

An earthy drama of human passions among women rice workers in the Po Valley.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

18 September 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bitter Rice

Filming Locations:

Cascina Selve, Salasco, Vercelli, Piedmont, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lucia Bosé was the director's first choice for the role of Silvana. It wasn't until he met Silvana Mangano by chance that he decided to cast her in the film. De Santis also wanted Mangano to appear in his next picture Under the Olive Tree but when she got pregnant, she was replaced by Bosé.

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Connections

Referenced in Schlock! The Secret History of American Movies (2001)

User Reviews

Still great after not having seen it since 1949

First saw Bitter Rice in 1949 and it has haunted me for 51 years. Recently rented it (2000) and it's still compelling. The verrismo genre was new at the time; in 2000 it doesn't have the same impact that it did when Open City, Bicycle Thief, La Strada, et al were all showing at about the same time, and showing us that there was a true, artistic alternative to Hollywood pap.

The then 18-year old Silvana Mangano's earthy performance will endure forever. My only memory from 1949 was of her working and chanting in the rice fields. And her doing a sensual Lindy with Vittorio Gassman. Those scenes were still compelling, half a century later.