La calle del vicio

I do not know Mario Pratesi's novel but it reminds me of Emile Zola's work,particularly "La Terre " and "Nana".Shot in perfect black and white ,with very beautiful pictures ,it depicts the fall of a young man (Jean-Paul Belmondo,probably dubbed,for I did not recognize his voice) and the peasants' sundown (the last sequence is one of the saddest and one of the most overwhelming in the Italian cinema ).Evil seems to dwell in town even if the prostitute (well portrayed by Claudia Cardinale)is not exactly evil ,she makes love but she cannot feel or give it.Several scenes predates some other works by Bolognini ,notably "la Corruzione" (a seminarian seduced by his father's mistress) or "L'Eredita Bolito" ( the long time lover eager for her partner's dough).A black melodrama.

This is a slow-paced but mesmerising film by Mauro Bolognini from a particularly rich phase of his output. Plenty of 'dubbing' going on here including the voice of Claudia Cardinale in this her second of three collaborations with this director. She was 'dubbed' for years as her voice was considered too 'coarse'. Filmgoers were not to hear her real voice until 'Il Gattopardo' and 'Otto e mezzo' in 1963. Belmondo, also 'dubbed', makes the most of a thankless part. The supporting cast is strong. Paul Frankeur is 'dubbed' as one would expect. Pietro Germi, never better, is 'dubbed' as well which one would not expect. The cinematography by Leonida Barboni is fabulous and Piero Tosi won the Silver Ribbon for his superb attention to period detail as production designer. There is also an effective use of part of Debussy's Rhapsody for Saxaphone and Orchestra. A rather curious sub-plot with Romolo Valli involving anarchists that seems to go nowhere and the inconsistences of Bianca's behaviour would indicate a change of original script. Some critics dismissed this film as an 'exercise in style' but stylishness has always been one of Bolognini's strengths and his mastery of the visual makes this piece eminently watchable even if not one of his best.

The movie presents various viewpoints on life's paths. Property issues and a desire to succeed in a big city are a part of social dynamics that create tension between rural and urban life. Both lifestyles lead to dramatic dialogues that arise from family disputes and financial issues. In between, one can follow a path of love and the main film poster still depicts the layers of emotional seduction. A beautiful woman's room in the city becomes a locus where intimate and hurtful relationship took place. After discovering that his choices in love and money can cause both emotional and physical pain, the main character returns home with a valuable life lesson conclusion.

A film with a very young and very beautiful Claudia Cardinale and a very young and natural Belmondo. The whole story is believable, all the actors are excellent. Cardinale is perfect as a prostitute and Belmondo is very convincing as a bloodied stabbed, ready to die.

I first saw this film 7 years ago at the age of 22 and it created an impression on me for days. I still remember the curtains, the "Belle èpoque" scenes of an Italian city, the beautiful lady, the difference between city life and peasants back in those days, the revolutionary anarchists.... I recommend this film for the scent it leaves for years after seeing it, also I recommend it because the theme of this film and the period of producing it are a distant non returning past of European history and European film making.