Hands Over the City [Le mani sulla città] **** (1963, Rod Steiger, Salvo Randone, Guido Alberti) – Classic Movie Review 11,072

Rod Steiger goes to Italy like so many other American actors in search of work and finds a prestige film by top director Francesco Rosi for the award-winning 1963  political and social drama film Hands Over the City [Le mani sulla città].

Steiger plays Edoardo Nottola, a corrupt Naples land developer businessman manipulating politicians to get his property developed. But, just before a local city council election, the collapse of a building leaves Nottola and his political backers having to defend themselves in the ensuing scandal.

Rosi directs with a violent passion that leads to him slightly loosening his grip on a tale that needed more steadiness, while Steiger is expectedly powerful, though he needs more slightly control in his performance. Nevertheless, this is a highly fascinating and intriguing film, however, as a significant minor work from an important director and star in his prime.

It is beautifully filmed in black and white on location in Naples by cinematographer Gianni di Venanzo.

It unanimously won the Golden Lion for best film at the Venice Film Festival in 1963.

The screenplay is Francesco Rosi, Raffaele La Capria. Enzo Provenzale and Enzo Forcella, based on an idea by Francesco Rosi, Raffaele La Capria.

Also in the cast are Salvo Randone, Guido Alberti, Marcello Cannavale, Dante Di Pinto, Alberto Conocchia, Carlo Fermariello and Terenzio Cordova.

During the trial sequence, the journalists are played by real-life journalists, including Italian film reviewers, and also left-wing politicians appear as actors.

Aldo Giuffrè (uncredited) did the Italian voice dubbing for Rod Steiger.

Hands Over the City [Le mani sulla città] is directed by Francesco Rosi, runs 101 minutes, is made by Galatea Film and Societé Cinématographique Lyre, is released by Warner Bros (1963) (Italy) and Warner Bros (1964) (US), is written by Francesco Rosi, Raffaele La Capria, Enzo Provenzale and Enzo Forcella, is shot in black and white by Gianni di Venanzo, is produced by Lionello Santi, is scored by Piero Piccioni and designed by Sergio Canevari.

Francesco Rosi was born on November 15, 1922 in Naples died on January 10, 2015 in Rome, aged 92. He was best known for Lucky Luciano (1973), Three Brothers [Tre fratelli], Illustrious Corpses (1976), La sfida (1958), Carmen (1984) and Salvatore Giuliano (1962). He won the 1983 BAFTA Film Award for Best Foreign Language Film for Cristo si è fermato a Eboli (1979).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,072

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