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IMDbPro

We the Living

Original title: Noi vivi
  • 19421942
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 2h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
375
YOUR RATING
We the Living (1942)
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Romance
The time is the Russian Revolution. The place is a country burdened with fear - the midnight knock at the door, the bread hidden against famine, the haunted eyes of the fleeing, the grublike... Read allThe time is the Russian Revolution. The place is a country burdened with fear - the midnight knock at the door, the bread hidden against famine, the haunted eyes of the fleeing, the grublike fat of the appeasers and oppressors. In a bitter struggle of the individual against the c... Read allThe time is the Russian Revolution. The place is a country burdened with fear - the midnight knock at the door, the bread hidden against famine, the haunted eyes of the fleeing, the grublike fat of the appeasers and oppressors. In a bitter struggle of the individual against the collective, three people stand forth with the mark of the unconquered in their bearing: Kir... Read all
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
375
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Goffredo Alessandrini
  • Writers
    • Ayn Rand(novel "We the Living")
    • Corrado Alvaro(adaptation)
    • Orio Vergani(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Fosco Giachetti
    • Alida Valli
    • Rossano Brazzi
Top credits
  • Director
    • Goffredo Alessandrini
  • Writers
    • Ayn Rand(novel "We the Living")
    • Corrado Alvaro(adaptation)
    • Orio Vergani(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Fosco Giachetti
    • Alida Valli
    • Rossano Brazzi
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Photos17

    We the Living (1942)
    We the Living (1942)
    Addio Kira! (1942)
    Rossano Brazzi and Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)
    Giovanni Grasso in We the Living (1942)
    Fosco Giachetti and Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)
    Rossano Brazzi and Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)
    Emilio Cigoli and Cesarina Gheraldi in We the Living (1942)
    Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)
    Cesarina Gheraldi in We the Living (1942)
    Rossano Brazzi and Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)
    Alida Valli in We the Living (1942)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Fosco Giachetti
    Fosco Giachetti
    • Andrei Taganovas Andrei Taganov
    Alida Valli
    Alida Valli
    • Kira Argounovaas Kira Argounova
    Rossano Brazzi
    Rossano Brazzi
    • Leo Kovalenskias Leo Kovalenski
    Giovanni Grasso
    • Stephan Tishenkoas Stephan Tishenko
    Emilio Cigoli
    • Pavel Sjerovas Pavel Sjerov
    Annibale Betrone
    Annibale Betrone
    • Vassili Dunaevas Vassili Dunaev
    Elvira Betrone
    • Maria Petrovna Dunaevas Maria Petrovna Dunaev
    Sennuccio Benelli
    • Saskaas Saska
    Gioia Collei
    • La piccola Acia Dunaevas La piccola Acia Dunaev
    Bianca Doria
    • Irina Dunaevas Irina Dunaev
    Cesarina Gheraldi
    • La compagna Sonjaas La compagna Sonja
    Silvia Manto
    • Mariskaas Mariska
    Claudia Marti
    • Lidia Augounovaas Lidia Augounova
    Evelina Paoli
    • Galina Petrovna Argounovaas Galina Petrovna Argounova
    Lamberto Picasso
    • GPU Captainas GPU Captain
    Mario Pisu
    • Viktor Dunaevas Viktor Dunaev
    Gina Sammarco
    • Tonjaas Tonja
    Guglielmo Sinaz
    • Morozovas Morozov
    • Director
      • Goffredo Alessandrini
    • Writers
      • Ayn Rand(novel "We the Living") (novel)
      • Corrado Alvaro(adaptation)
      • Orio Vergani(adaptation)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The films We the Living (1942) and Addio Kira! (1942) were produced in 1942 in Italy ("Addio Kira" is part two of the story that begins in "Noi Vivi"). The films were made without the authorization, input, involvement, or, in fact, knowledge, of Ayn Rand author of the underlying work, "We The Living". Because of the war and the fact that Rand was an American, the producers, Scalera Films, made no attempt to secure the underlying literary rights. After the war, Scalera attempted to get the underlying rights from Rand and was refused. Because of this "Noi Vivi" and "Addio Kira" were not and cannot be legally distributed. Many years later, the negatives of the two existing films were purchased by American filmmakers. Rand granted literary rights and authorized a new film version of "We The Living" to be created out the films on the condition that several significant changes were made. Most importantly, she wanted the story to be told in a single film. Because of this, "We The Living", released in 1986, is significantly different from the two unauthorized films. Several subplots of the story have been removed. Running time is now a full hour less than the total of the two films.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life (1996)

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A political love story
    Ayn Rand's novel, We the Living, was made into 2 films by an Italian company and released in 1942. They made these films without the consent of the author. Nevertheless, the resulting films were rather well done, except for the fact that dialogue and plot were added that were a) more acceptable to the fascist government in power and b) antithetical to Rand's beliefs and the nature of the characters. Thus, when Rand was asked for her permission to re-release the films decades later, she agreed with the stipulation that the offending sections be excised. After all, the actions and motivations of the characters were contradictory with the added lines. (Example: it does not make sense for a character to condemn the principles of a free market economy when he is rebelling against a socialist economy).

    Rand was mostly pleased with the Italian product and the actors' performances, so she was pleased to have the films--which were combined into one film--modified and released. Besides being a great novelist, she started her writing career as a screenwriter in Hollywood. Her understanding of plot and character development are second to no one's.

    The story itself is a complex love story, a triangle between the heroine and the two relationships she had with two men--one who was a member of the ruling communist party, and one whose father was a member of the overthrown aristocracy. Both men are victims of their times in that they see aristocracy and communism as the only two alternatives. The first man learns the realities of compromising his values due to practicalities within the party and the social/political structure. The second suffers for his values but eventually learns to compromise them (they were not so strong to begin with) to survive in the corrupt society of the USSR.

    Without the exposition of Rand's novel, the political messages of the story are probably difficult to discern, other than the "I" vs "The State" basics.

    One writer criticized Rand for wanting to bring the film closer to her original vision, as if those who stole her work had a right to their artistic vision. I guess you could say that the fascist authorities also had a right to their vision, but obviously whatever rights they had to their own beliefs gave them no rights when it comes to amending Rand's work. The original Italian films would, no doubt be interesting, but mostly as examples of propaganda and for historical purposes.
    helpful•8
    2
    • atlasmb
    • Mar 29, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 20, 1942 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • Italy
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Ayn Rand's We the Living
    • Filming locations
      • Scalera Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Era Film
      • Scalera Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      2 hours 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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