Bitter Rice (1949) Italy
Bitter Rice Image Cover
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Director:Santis, Giuseppe De, Dowling, Doris, Gassman, Vittorio, Mangano, Silvana, Rissone, Checco, Vallone, Raf
Studio:Lux Film
Writer:Giuseppe De Santis, Giuseppe De Santis
Rating:7.6 (1,194 votes)
Date Added:2012-06-05
ASIN:037429137635
Awards:Nominated for Oscar,
Genre:Italian films
IMDb:0040737
Duration:1:46:00
Aspect Ratio:1.37 : 1
Sound:Mono
Languages:Italian
Subtitles:English, Italian
LAC code:300008979
DVD or VHS:DVD
Original:original
Santis, Giuseppe De, Dowling, Doris, Gassman, Vittorio, Mangano, Silvana, Rissone, Checco, Vallone, Raf  ...  (Director)
Giuseppe De Santis, Giuseppe De Santis  ...  (Writer)
 
Vittorio Gassman  ...  Walter
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
Dody Ristori  ...  Anna
Anna Maestri  ...  Irene
Mariemma Bardi  ...  Gianna
Maria Capuzzo  ...  Giulia
Isabella Zennaro  ...  Rosa
Carlo Mazzarella  ...  Gianetto
Summary: One of Italy's most commercially successful films, Bitter Rice packed theaters around the world despite being banned by the Legion of Decency in the United States. Though intended as a scathing indictment of harsh conditions endured by women laboring in Italy's rice fields, the film's enormous popularity was largely attributed to the erotic appeal of young Silvana Mangano. The former Miss Rome became a star overnight for her sultry debut as an impoverished yet voluptuous laborer who turns down the chance to emigrate to a better life in South America in favor of a steamy affair with her best friend's lover. Ironically, Marxist writer and director Giuseppe De Santis, one of the founders of Italy's post-World War II neorealist movement, virtually brought the genre to an end with Bitter Rice by demonstrating that sex was a far greater draw than social criticism.