… And the Wild, Wild Women (Nella città l’inferno)
Directed by Renato Castellani
Written by Suso Cecchi d’Amico from a novel by Isa Mari
1959/Italy/France
Riama Film/Rizzoli Film/Francinex
First viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] “Be thine own palace, or the world’s thy jail.” ― John Donne, The Poems of John Donne[/box]
Dubbing does not do this movie any favors.
The film is set in a contemporary women’s prison in Rome. Egle (Anna Magnani) is a bold, brassy career convict. She takes timid newcomer Lina (Giulietta Masina) under her wing. Lina has been brought low by a bastard whom she still loves. Most of the film is an episodic slice of life. Another plot line involves an inmate who falls in love with a man she glimpses on the street.
It turns out there are a number of Italian films of this era on Amazon Instant in versions that have been dubbed into English. I always find dubbing to be a major distraction. I think that Magnani may have dubbed her own voice. One can sense that this is a great, flamboyant performance. (She received many awards at film festivals). The rest of the actresses, including Masina, were pretty clearly dubbed by voice actresses. Someday, I’d like to see the original version.
American Trailer
This is the first I ever heard of a “women in prison” film with Anna Magnani and Giuleta Masina. Sounds pretty awesome! A little less awesome than Women’s Prison Massacre but a little more awesome than the one with Ida Lupino.
It seems entirely unlikely that it’s even in the same league with Female Convict Scorpion.
How can you miss with a title like Female Convict Scorpion?! Obviously a must see!
When I was trying to decide my favorite Japanese movie, I narrowed it down to five contenders. Two of them were from the Female Convict Scorpion series. (And another two were Godzilla movies.)
For the record, Yojimbo won. But it was close!
Female Convict Scorpion is in some very good company! I never would have guessed Japanese from the title.