During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.During the Nazi occupation of Rome in 1944, the Resistance leader, Giorgio Manfredi, is chased by the Nazis as he seeks refuge and a way to escape.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 6 wins & 1 nomination total
Eduardo Passarelli
- Neighborhood Police Sergeant
- (as Passarelli)
Joop van Hulzen
- Captain Hartmann
- (as Van Hulzen)
Ákos Tolnay
- Austrian Deserter
- (as A. Tolnay)
Caterina Di Furia
- Woman in Street Scene
- (uncredited)
Laura Clara Giudice
- Bit Part
- (uncredited)
Turi Pandolfini
- Grandfather
- (uncredited)
Amalia Pellegrini
- Nannina
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaRoberto Rossellini used real German POWs as extras for added realistic effect.
- GoofsWhen Marina opens the wardrobe door to put something into the wardrobe. In the next shot, all of a sudden, a garment is hanging on the door that was not there before.
- Quotes
Don Pietro: It's not hard to die well. The hard thing is to live well.
- ConnectionsEdited into Bellissimo: Immagini del cinema italiano (1985)
Featured review
Rome, Neorealist City
Rome after the Second World War was a damaged, destroyed city. The huge film industry that had once been known all over Europe was, quite literally, in ruins.
Hence, when Roberto Rossellini took up his camera in 1945 to start shooting 'Open City', he was forced to make due with quite a few limitations: using scavenged film stock, whatever kind he could get his hands on; shooting outside and on location; and employing a much more dynamic, though much less controlled, form of cinematography than Italian cinema had previously seen. The result was an unpolished, rough gem of a film that, in addition to its many contributions to the evolution of cinema, left the pre-war Italian super-spectacle in the dust.
In terms of story, 'Open City' is pure melodrama; and a pretty, darn affecting one at that. Thematically, it's socialist, a reaction against the fascism, personified by Mussolini, that had just been defeated in Italy. But, it is in its style that the film truly stands out.
With 'Open City', Rossellini succeeded in taking adverse conditions and using them to craft a solid, emotional tale of the Italian resistance. In the process, he solidified the aesthetic of an entire film movement: Italian Neorealism.
The film is recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story, is interesting as an artifact of its historical period, and is absolutely indispensable to anyone with at least a passing interest in the history of cinema.
Hence, when Roberto Rossellini took up his camera in 1945 to start shooting 'Open City', he was forced to make due with quite a few limitations: using scavenged film stock, whatever kind he could get his hands on; shooting outside and on location; and employing a much more dynamic, though much less controlled, form of cinematography than Italian cinema had previously seen. The result was an unpolished, rough gem of a film that, in addition to its many contributions to the evolution of cinema, left the pre-war Italian super-spectacle in the dust.
In terms of story, 'Open City' is pure melodrama; and a pretty, darn affecting one at that. Thematically, it's socialist, a reaction against the fascism, personified by Mussolini, that had just been defeated in Italy. But, it is in its style that the film truly stands out.
With 'Open City', Rossellini succeeded in taking adverse conditions and using them to craft a solid, emotional tale of the Italian resistance. In the process, he solidified the aesthetic of an entire film movement: Italian Neorealism.
The film is recommended to anyone who enjoys a good story, is interesting as an artifact of its historical period, and is absolutely indispensable to anyone with at least a passing interest in the history of cinema.
helpful•72
- czarowoj
- May 4, 2007
- How long is Rome, Open City?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Roma, ciudad abierta
- Filming locations
- Parrocchia di Sant'Elena, Via Casilina 205, Rome, Lazio, Italy(Don Pietro's church)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $24,500
- Runtime1 hour 43 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content