Synopsis:
Shortly after a widow (Katina Paxinou) from southern Italy migrates to Milan with her four younger sons — Simone (Renato Salvatori), Rocco (Alain Delon), Ciro (Max Cartier), and Luca (Rocco Vidolazzi) — to be near their older brother Vincenzo (Spiros Focas) and his fiancee (Claudia Cardinale), the siblings find themselves at odds with one another’s choices in life and love, particularly given the presence of an alluring prostitute (Annie Girardot).

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Alain Delon Films
• Boxing
• Claudia Cardinale Films
• Immigrants and Immigration
• Italian Films
• Love Triangle
• Luchino Visconti Films
• Prostitutes and Gigolos
• Siblings

Review:
This fourth title by Luchino Visconti listed in Peary’s GFTFF — after Ossessione (1943), La Terra Trema (1948), and Senso (1954) — tells the dramatic, nearly Shakespearian tale of a fatherless family navigating a new life in the big city. Paxinou is feisty, passionate, and opinionated as the matriarch who initially disapproves of her oldest son’s engagement:

… but our attention quickly turns to Salvatori, who looks the part of the boxer he soon becomes:

… and whose infatuation with Girardot sparks his downfall.

Meanwhile, Delon (“Rocco” of the title) becomes the primary focus of the storyline once he takes up boxing himself — and also falls for Girardot.

However, it’s Delon’s hardcore family loyalty which ultimately drives his actions to a fault, serving as an unwavering narrative throughline. While we learn a bit about Cartier and Vidolazzi (the youngest two sons), primary tensions continue to circulate around Salvatori, Delon, and Girardot:

… as well as Salvatori’s mounting debts. The film is beautifully photographed (by DP Giuseppe Rotunno) — with effective location shooting throughout Milan — and features fine acting by the leads. Although it’s a bit of a long haul at nearly three hours, it’s worth the investment.

Note: This was the film that introduced Francis Ford Coppola to composer Nino Roti, who scored his Godfather movies (among others).

Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:

• Alain Delon as Rocco
  
• Renato Salvatori as Simone
  
• Annie Girardot as Nadia
  
• Giuseppe Rotunno’s cinematography
  
  
  
• Nino Rota’s score

Must See?
Yes, as a powerful Italian classic. Listed as a film with Historical Relevance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary’s book.

Categories

• Important Director

(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die)

Links:

• IMDb entry
• TCM Article
• DVD Savant Review
• DVD Talk Review