''Genoese Dragnet'' ( it, Processo contro ignoti) is a 1952

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

crime-melodrama film. The movie relates the story of Michele, a man accused of murdering a kidnapped girl and his fight to prove his innocence.

Plot

Genoa. Two wealthy spouses have their little daughter kidnapped. The kidnappers ask for a ransom of twenty million: the father makes the payment but the girl is not released. The searches start and in a short time it turns out that her child died of suffocation. The outrage of public opinion initiates the investigation, but it takes many months before the arrest of the alleged culprit, a mechanic of a garage who cannot justify his sudden enrichment. After an intense interrogation, he admits to having driven the vehicle in which the child was taken to the kidnappers' lair, while totally ignoring the purpose of the mission. For fear he did not report the leader of the gang, who gave him part of the ransom before fleeing. He is sent for trial and, during the trial that follows, the wife of the mechanic, a cashier in the bar where the head of the gang worked, has a seriously ill son and in order to get the money she agrees to become the boss's lover. However, the woman realizes that she still loves her husband and therefore decides to collaborate with her defense lawyer. The gang leader is killed as soon as he sets foot in Genoa; the owner of the bar is accused of the murder and sentenced to life in prison. The mechanic is sentenced to a light sentence; once he is out, after a few months, he will forget his wife's betrayal for the sake of his son.

Cast

Lianella Carell Lianella Carell (6 May 1927 – 22 December 2000) was an Italian film actress and screenwriter. She appeared in 18 films between 1948 and 1958. She is perhaps best known for playing Maria Ricci, the wife of the protagonist in the 1948 Vitto ...

as Gianna *

Cesare Danova Cesare Danova (March 1, 1926 – March 19, 1992) was an Italian television and screen actor. Best known for his roles in ''The Captain's Daughter'' (1947), ''Viva Las Vegas'' (1964), '' Chamber of Horrors'' (1966), ''Mean Streets'' (1973), and v ...

as Lawyer Enzo Pirani * Charles Rutherford as Michele Esposito *

Arnoldo Foà Arnoldo Foà (24 January 1916 – 11 January 2014) was an Italian actor, voice actor, theatre director, singer and writer. He appeared in more than 130 films between 1938 and 2014. Biography Foà was born in Ferrara, Italy, to a Jewish fa ...

as Basilio *

Marcello Giorda Marcello Giorda (1890–1960) was an Italian film actor.Goble p.396 Selected filmography * '' Adam's Tree'' (1936) * ''The Last Days of Pompeo'' (1937) * ''The Two Misanthropists'' (1937) * '' Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal'' (1937) * ' ...

as Gabriele * Carlo Lombardi as Judge Ranieri *

Tina Lattanzi Tina Lattanzi (born Annunziata Concetta Costantini; 5 December 1897 – 25 October 1997) was an Italian actress and voice actress. Biography A native of Licenza and the daughter of Ercole Costantini and Geltrude Montori, Lattanzi began her actin ...

as Ranieri's Wife *

Ignazio Balsamo Ignazio Balsamo (25 October 1912 – 7 August 1994) was an Italian film and stage actor. Life and career Born in Catania, Balsamo began his career on stage, being part of several Sicilian language theatrical companies. Discovered by Pietr ...

as Giovanni Feruglio *

Domenico Modugno Domenico Modugno (; 9 January 1928 – 6 August 1994) was an Italian singer, actor and, later in life, a member of the Italian Parliament. He is known for his 1958 international hit song "Nel blu, dipinto di blu (song), Nel blu dipinto di blu", ...

as Police Commissioner *

Memmo Carotenuto Memmo Carotenuto (23 August 1908 – 23 December 1980) was an Italian actor. He appeared in 125 films between 1941 and 1980. Selected filmography *''The Wedding Trip'' (1969) * ''Assassination in Rome'' (1965) * ''Male Companion'' (1964) ...

as Carcerato *

Carlo Sposito Carlo Sposito (1 May 1924 – 9 September 1984) was an Italian character actor, sometimes credited as Carletto Sposito. Born in Palermo, he was among the most active actors in the post-war Italian genre cinema. He was also pretty active on stag ...

as Worker

References

External links

*
Processo contro ignoti
1952 films 1950s Italian-language films Films directed by Guido Brignone Italian black-and-white films Italian crime drama films 1952 crime drama films Melodrama films 1950s Italian films {{1950s-Italy-film-stub