Risi Amaro/Bitter Rice (Film 1949-ENG&ITA SUB)

Bitter Rice (Italian: Riso Amaro) is a 1949 Italian neorealist crime drama film directed and co-written by Giuseppe De Santis, produced by Dino De Laurentiis, and starring Vittorio Gassman, Doris Dowling, Silvana Mangano, and Raf Vallone. Audio in Italian with subtitles in English and Italian (click on CC for subtitles).

The story follows a pair of fugitives, who hide among the rice fields of northern Italy. The Italian title of the film is based on a pun; since the Italian word riso can mean either "rice" or "laughter", riso amaro can be taken to mean either "bitter laughter" or "bitter rice". Released by Lux Film, Bitter Rice was a commercial success in Europe and the United States. It was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 1949 Cannes Film Festival, and was nominated for the 1950 Academy Award for Best Story.

In 2008, the film was included on the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage’s 100 Italian films to be saved, a list of 100 films that "have changed the collective memory of the country between 1942 and 1978."

Bitter Rice was the first credited role of actress Silvana Mangano. Prior to this, she had only appeared in a handful of uncredited parts. Director Giuseppe De Santis had sought an "Italian Rita Hayworth" for the role, and his first choice was Lucia Bosè. It was also the debut for Raf Vallone, who at the time was a writer for L'Unità. Mangano's voice was dubbed by Lydia Simoneschi, though she still uses her own singing voice.

The film was shot on location in the countryside of Vercellese. The main locations are Cascina Selve in Salasco and Tenuta Veneria in Lignana. The film's sets were designed by the art director Carlo Egidi. Mario Monicelli worked on the film as an uncredited script doctor.

Cast & Characters:
Vittorio Gassman as Walter Granata
Doris Dowling as Francesca
Silvana Mangano as Silvana
Raf Vallone as Marco
Checco Rissone as Aristide
Nico Pepe as Beppe
Adriana Sivieri as Celeste
Lia Corelli as Amelia
Maria Grazia Francia as Gabriella
Dedi Ristori as Anna
Anna Maestri as Irene
Mariemma Bardi as Gianna
Maria Capuzzo as Giulia
Isabella Zennaro as Rosa
Carlo Mazzarella as Gianetto