ROMA CITTÀ LIBERA (LA NOTTE PORTA CONSIGLIO)

Marcello Pagliero

Sog.: Ennio Flaiano; Scen.: Ennio Flaiano, Luigi Filippo d’Amico, Suso Cecchi d’Amico, Marcello Marchesi, Cesare Zavattini, Marcello Pagliero; F.: Aldo Tonti; Mo.: Giuliana Attenti; Scgf.: Gastone Medin; Mu.: Nino Rota, diretta da Fernando Previtali; Int.: Andrea Checchi (il giovane), Valentina Cortese (la ragazza), Nando Bruno (il ladro), Vittorio De Sica (il signore distinto), Marisa Merlini (Mara), Gar Moore (l’americano), Manlio Busoni (il falsario), Fedele Gentile (il ricettatore), Francesco Grandjacquet (il padrone della bisca), Rossana Licari, Ave Ninchi (l’affittacamere), Ennio Flaiano (il questurino), Camillo Mastrocinque (il signore con la macchina), Lionello Zanchi (il signore in smoking); Prod.: Marcello d’Amico per Pao Film; Pri. pro.: 17 dicembre 1946 35mm. D.: 81’. Bn. 

info_outline
T. it.: Italian title. T. int.: International title. T. alt.: Alternative title. Sog.: Story. Scen.: Screenplay. F.: Cinematography. M.: Editing. Scgf.: Set Design. Mus.: Music. Int.: Cast. Prod.: Production Company. L.: Length. D.: Running Time. f/s: Frames per second. Bn.: Black e White. Col.: Color. Da: Print source

Film Notes

You especially must not think – based on a more or less grounded literary parallel – that the expression “ film maudit” applies only to dry, pessimistic, sophisticated films: La notte porta consiglio is a playful film, often full of humor and optimism! Other people can tell you about what its relative “curse” is related to…
(…) The film seems to really be about Rome and the different aspects of life there at night. Undoubtedly it is due to the preference for myriad details – every single one excellent – over a more solid spine that this film seems a little confused and ultimately not as satisfying as its qualities would deserve. The influence of René Clair is clear. In these characters that meet, leave one another and meet up again, a necklace that is passed from hand to hand, we can glimpse a Million in the background. And the distinct political, slightly crazy man cannot but remind us of certain characters of A nous la liberté and Le dernier milliardaire.
All this did not stop Marcello Pagliero from making an original film. The actor of Roma città aperta, making his film several months later, placed the action in a decidedly realist setting, and this imaginative trip – in which the characters are not mere puppets – explores the streets, places, clandestine clubs and dancing spots, the authenticity of which is brimming with everyday details of life.
To be noted in the credits are Cesare Zavattini, who from Quattro passi fra le nuvole to Ladri di biciclette, with Sciuscià in tow, was associated as screenplay writer with the most representative Italian films, Aldo Tonti, one of the best cameraman on the peninsula, and Vittorio De Sica, who gives us an extraordinary performance as the amnesic minister.

Jean-Pierre Barrot, La nuit porte conseil: Un peu decousu mais plein de qualité, “L’Ecran français”, n. 220, 19 September 1949

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