Review by claudio_carvalho

In Rome, the smalltime thieves Scinttilone (Jean-Claude Brialy) and Ruggeretto (Laurent Terzieff) steal four rifles and catch the prostitutes Anna (Elsa Martinelli) and Supplizia (Antonella Lualdi) on the street to mislead the police. They seek the jobber Mosciarella (Mario Meniconi), but he is in funeral and does no give much attention to them. However, a man called Gino "Bellabella" overhears the conversation and offers to deal the merchandise with another contact. He fails and the whores present a deaf-and-dumb acquaintance that lives in the outskirts of Rome that buys the guns. The prostitute Nicoletta (Anna-Maria Ferrero) that was with the man returns to Rome with the quintet. When the youngsters propose to have sex in the middle of nowhere, the prostitutes believe that they have the intention of leaving them in the spot. Scinttilone, Ruggeretto and Bellabella sneak out to the car and leave the women in the countryside. Later they discover that the women had robbed their money. They seek them out on the streets and they fight against another gang. However, when the police arrive, the six youngsters leave the place together and they head to the house of one of them. Ruggeretto meets the sister of the host and he falls for her. However, Bellabella steals the wallet of the host with a large amount and Ruggeretto fights against him to get the wallet back and return it to the host. While they are fighting, Scinttilone flees with the wallet to the house of his girlfriend Rossana (Rosanna Schiaffino). Ruggeretto chases Scinttilone along a night of alienation, illusions and adventures.

"La Notte Brava" is an early unknown work of the director Mauro Bolognini, based on a novel and a screenplay of Pier Paolo Pasolini also in beginning of career. The story shows a group of alienated youngsters without any perspective in life but having some money to spend during a night of illusions and adventures. The beauty of the actresses is very impressive and the acting is very realistic. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "A Longa Noite de Loucuras" ("The Long Night of Madness")