''La ladra'' (french: Les anges aux mains noires) is a 1955 Italian-French

crime In ordinary language, a crime is an unlawful act punishable by a state or other authority. The term ''crime'' does not, in modern criminal law, have any simple and universally accepted definition,Farmer, Lindsay: "Crime, definitions of", in Ca ...

melodrama film A modern melodrama is a dramatic work in which the plot, typically sensationalized and for a strong emotional appeal, takes precedence over detailed characterization. Melodramas typically concentrate on dialogue that is often bombastic or exces ...

co-written and directed by

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made before World ...

and starring Lise Bourdin and

Fausto Tozzi Fausto Tozzi (29 October 1921 – 10 December 1978) was an Italian film actor and screenwriter. He appeared in 70 films between 1951 and 1978. He wrote the script for ''The Defeated Victor'', which was entered into the 9th Berlin Internation ...

Plot

Whistle is an orphaned boy, raised in an environment unsuitable for a budding child and thief. A shady lawyer, an accomplice of thieves and fences, entrusts him to Nino, the leader of a gang that is preparing a particularly valuable coup. On the appointed day, Whistle and Bebè, accompanied by Nino who passes himself off as an employer, must present themselves at Countess Barenghi's house as chimney sweeps, but Whistle seriously injures himself falling from the chimney and sends the blow upstream. Anna, who has lost a small son and has begun to become attached to the child, pretends to be his mother to take him away but the doctor, called by the countess, forbids him to move. The two thus live a few days in that strange house, during which they become attached to each other. In the meantime, Nino, feeling abandoned, has found a new lover in Mary, a no good one who follows him in the planned coup but who, in an attempt to take possession of the stolen goods, reports him to the police. Nino manages to go untraceable after hiding the loot in Anna's house who, unaware of everything, returns a few days later with Whistle and where the police end up finding it. Anna is obviously arrested while Whistle (who in the meantime had him baptized giving him the name Paolo, that of her missing son), ends up in a boarding school at the expense of the countess, who believes in the innocence of the woman and also pays the expenses of a lawyer. With the support of Don Pietro and the same lawyer, Anna reacts firmly to prove her innocence, which will only happen with Nino's arrest.

Cast

* Lise Bourdin as Anna *

as Nino *

Carlo D'Angelo Carlo D'Angelo (February 2, 1919 – June 9, 1973) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Milan, the son of a Neapolitan father and a Florentine mother, at 9 years old D'Angelo was part of the Voci Bianche choir at La Scala. ...

as Don Pietro * Henry Vilbert as Lawyer * Lyla Rocco as Mary * Piero Giagnoni as Fischio *

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 Ciuffo * Carlo Delle Piane as Bebè *

Lauro Gazzolo Lauro Gazzolo (born Ilario Gazzolo; 15 October 1900 – 2 October 1970) was an Italian actor and voice actor. Biography Born in Nervi in Genoa, Gazzolo began his career on screen in 1938 starring in the comedy film ''The Document'' and bec ...

as Butler * Carla Calò as Gemma *

Vera Carmi Vera Carmi (23 November 1914 – 6 September 1969) was an Italian film actress. She appeared in more than 50 films between 1940 and 1956. She was born in Turin, Italy and died in Rome, Italy. Life and career Carmi was born Virginia Doglioli ...

as Countess Barenghi * Cristina Pall as Housekeeper * Franco Jamonte as Milo *

Gildo Bocci Gildo Bocci (1 September 1886 – 22 July 1964) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in 60 films between 1913 and 1959. He was born and died in Rome, Italy. Partial filmography * ''Messalina'' (1924) - Apollonio * '' Quo Vadis'' (1924) - ...

as Professor *

Renato Navarrini Renato Navarrini (1892–1972) was an Italian stage and film actor.Verdone p.101 He was married to the actress Fanny Marchiò. Partial filmography * ''La tavola dei poveri'' (1932) * ''Un cattivo soggetto'' (1933) * ''Lohengrin'' (1936) - Il d ...

as Doctor *

Enrico Glori Enrico is both an Italian masculine given name and a surname, Enrico means homeowner, or king, derived from ''Heinrich'' of Germanic origin. It is also a given name in Ladino. Equivalents in other languages are Henry (English), Henri ( French), ...

as Brigadier *

Saro Urzì Rosario "Saro" Urzì (24 February 1913 – 1 November 1979) was an Italian actor. He is best known for his roles in the films '' In the Name of the Law'' (1949), '' The Railroad Man'' (1956), '' Seduced and Abandoned'' (1964), which earned him ...

as Caporale *

Mino Doro Mino Doro (6 May 1903 – 13 April 1992) was an Italian actor who appeared in more than a hundred films between 1932 and 1970. Doro generally played supporting and character roles. He appeared as a blackshirt in the 1934 Fascist propaganda fi ...

as Arrighi

References

External links

* 1955 crime drama films 1955 films Films directed by Mario Bonnard Italian crime drama films French crime drama films Melodrama films 1950s Italian films 1950s French films {{crime-drama-film-stub