Hands Over the City (1963)

Prior to a city council election, the collapse of a building leaves a land developer and his political backers defending themselves against a scandal.

Director:

Francesco Rosi

Writers:

Francesco Rosi (idea), Raffaele La Capria (idea)

Stars:

Rod Steiger, Salvo Randone, Guido Alberti

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Rod Steiger	...	Edoardo Nottola
Salvo Randone	...	De Angelis
Guido Alberti	...	Maglione
Marcello Cannavale	...	Amico di Nottola
Dante Di Pinto	...	Presidente della Commissione
Alberto Conocchia	...	Amico di Nottola
Carlo Fermariello	...	De Vita
Terenzio Cordova	...	Commissario
Gaetano Grimaldi Filioli	...	Amico di Nottola
Angelo D'Alessandro	...	Balsamo
Vincenzo Metafora	...	Sindaco
Dany París	...	Dany - Amante di Maglione (as Dany Paris)

Storyline

Prior to a city council election, the collapse of a building leaves a land developer and his political backers defending themselves against a scandal.

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Plot Keywords:

poliziottesco | scandal | city council | election | land developer | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

7 November 1963 (France)

Also Known As:

As Mãos Sobre a Cidade

Filming Locations:

Via Nuova Marina, Naples, Campania, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Galatea Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Rod Steiger's character comments that he looks too much like Benito Mussolini. Stegier would play Mussolini later in The Last 4 Days (1974) and Lion of the Desert (1980).

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Crazy Credits

Western Electric is misspelled ('Elettric').

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Connections

Featured in One Hundred Steps (2000)

User Reviews

2018 Emerging Markets democracy = 1960s Italy?

Set in 1963 Naples, Hands Over the City is a serious depiction of the corruption, nepotism and social issues of post war reconstruction.

Italy in the early 1960s was barely a developed nation. Like most European participants of World War Two, Italy was left devastated by six years of conflict ending in 1945.

The movie's plot revolves around an investigation of a building collapse resulting in several fatalities. The story plays out in the backdrop of local elections which may affect vested political interests dole out land development contracts to cronies.

By shedding light on back room political dealings, the film exposes the shortcomings of democracy in developing states. Additionally, the raw power of wealth in (literally) buying votes amongst a poor electorate (think India, etc.) is laid bare during the movie.

In such a corrupt environment geared to enhancing the wealth and influence of existing power brokers it is not surprising ordinary people turned to Socialist and even Communist politics. Indeed, Italy's Communist and Socialist parties regularly won 33% or more of the popular vote until the 1980s. (Both parties were independent of policies emanating from Moscow.)

Though one may criticize the movie's pace, the story unfolds well enough to watch. The characters are realistic with the black and white filming adding to the effect of watching a sordid drama unfolding in seedy, smoky backrooms. The cinematography, especially in the opening scenes of Naples cityscape, is excellent. Hands Over the City is a social statement film more than an entertainment piece.