Stranger on the Prowl (1952)
"Imbarco a mezzanotte" (original title)

A nameless, homeless and rejected man who is looking for a new life and a young boy from an impoverished family, who is forced to steal when he loses the milk money. These two come together in the same hiding place.

Director:

Joseph Losey

Writers:

Noël Calef (story), Ben Barzman (screenplay)

Stars:

Paul Muni, Joan Lorring, Vittorio Manunta

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Muni	...	The Stranger With A Gun
Joan Lorring	...	Angela, a lonely woman
Vittorio Manunta	...	Giacomo, a small boy
Luisa Rossi	...	Giacomo's Mother
Aldo Silvani	...	Peroni, the junk dealer
Arnoldo Foà	...	Inspector-in-Charge
Alfredo Varelli	...	The Neighborhood Patrolman
Héléna Manson	...	Grocery Store Clerk (victim)
Fausta Mazzucchelli	...	Giacomo's Little Sister
Cesare Trapani	...	Tall Boy
Enrico Glori	...	Signor Pucci
Franco Balducci	...	Morelli
Leonardo Scavino	...	Mancini (as Leon Lenoir)
Linda Sini	...	Signora Raffetto
Giulio Marchetti	...	Signor Raffetto

Storyline

A nameless, homeless and rejected man who is looking for a new life and a young boy from an impoverished family, who is forced to steal when he loses the milk money. These two come together in the same hiding place.

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Plot Keywords:

foreign language adaptation | based on short story

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

9 November 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stranger on the Prowl

Filming Locations:

Livorno, Tuscany, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Riviera Films, Tirrenia Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Joseph Losey replaced Bernard Vorhaus as director, following the latter being dubbed a communist sympathiser

User Reviews

A disappointing film from a great director and great actor.

Despite a few effective moments, Muni unaccountably overplays in this film & Losey's direction is without his usual control and taste. The story, of a drifter in Italy, is incoherent and the characterisation, especially Muni's role, so scanty that it's difficult to understand motivation.