L'Enfer dans la ville

It is fitting that a film set in a womans prison should be based upon a novel by a woman, Isa Mari. Not only that but it has been adapted by a woman who just happens to be one of the greatest and most respected screenwriters in the history of film namely Suso Cecchi D'Amico, whose credits are phenomenal. Feminists might lament the absence of a female director but then one cannot have everything! The earlier films of Renato Castellani were considered 'worthy' by critics but by the time he made this they had changed their tune. It is without doubt a powerful and compelling film with uniformly strong performances. The two leads are Anna Magnani and Giulietta Masina whose characters and performances represent both sides of the coin. The psychological changes that they both undergo during the course of the film are wonderfully depicted. This was a miraculous decade for Masina and Magnani had already taken America by storm in 'Rose Tattoo' and 'The Wild Side'. To call Magnani a force of Nature would be something of an understatement. Her performance here as Egle, the seasoned inmate, is electrifying and is a perfect contrast to the naivety of Masina's Lina. Mention must also be made of Cristina Gaioni as Marietta. The scene where she receives a letter from an unknown admirer outside the prison is unbearably touching. Alberto Sordi has a small, uncredited role as a low-life. Even by his standards this was a busy year for him with no less than ten films released notably 'The Great War' and the 'The Widower'. Previous reviewers have quite rightly expressed frustration at the lack of a sub-titled version. It is indeed a lamentable oversight but for those who appreciate great acting it is still worth giving this excellent film a go.

This film received only a minor release in the United States in a shortened and dubbed version and was shown intact only at some touring museum series many years later. That is a shame considering the stature of the two leading performers, Anna Magnani and Giulietta Masina, both of them great ladies of the Italian cinema. Their performances are riveting. NELLA CITTA' L'INFERNO is about an innocent housewife (Masina) who is falsely convicted of theft and is sent to a women's prison in Rome. There she is tutored in the ways of crime by her expert cell-mate (Magnani) and must live amid a company of prostitutes, murderers, and thieves. Their effect on her is not a positive one. Renato Castellani directed this lively piece, and Roman comedian-actor Alberto Sordi has a small role in it.

I've been waiting for ages to have a DVD of this film to show everybody in England and the US but, guess what? It doesn't have English subtitles, in fact, no subtitles at all. How can it possibly be? Who's the myopic creature behind this move? Only Italian speaking audiences will be able to enjoy it, missing the golden opportunity to make the film known around the world. The film in itself is a gem and contains one of Anna Magnani greatest performances and that's saying something. She's funny, brutal, a force of nature. The film, by the great Renato Castellani maintains an energy that it's simply contagious. Maybe somebody behind this release wakes up and does something about it to make it accessible to an international audience.

Giulietta Masina turns upside down her usual waif and Anna Magnani is simply fantastic in this, entertaining, bitter, masterful "dramedy". If the Roxie Hart story could become a musical (Chicago) "Nella città l'inferno" should become an opera. The simple, vulnerable Masina, unjustly accused and convicted, falls under the wing of seasoned inmate Magnani. The scenes between this two actresses - with Magnani dominating, gloriously - are so beautifully drawn that it should be a must for film scholars. Unfortunately not available even on Italian home video.

Keep an eye for retrospectives of Masina or Magnani or if in Italy on TV very, very late at night.

Update! March 2007 It's out in DVD but without English subtitles! Incredible but true.

I first saw this cinematic gem in a German dub version at age 10. Years later I can appreciate the stellar performances by the 2 legendary Italian actresses Anna Magnani and Julieta Masina. The story begins with Masina's arrival in jail, innocently convicted. The young, shattered woman is immediately befriended by the experienced criminal Magnanni. Several intriguing characters are introduced and side-plots spun out. Masina eventually is exhaunorated, but returns "for a visit", with shocking results.

This film, like other Italian Post-War masterpieces ("La Strada", "The Biscycle Thief") focuses on the lingering poverty, a direct result of a "lost war", and the deep gaps between the haves and the have nots. The "little guy" in that place and time had very few laughs, as the better-off will exploit the desperate. A fascinating score and beautiful black & white cinematography make this one of the supreme foreign film classics. I highly recommend this film.*****