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.
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.