IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
A trio of con-men led by a lonesome swindler must deal with their job and family pressures.A trio of con-men led by a lonesome swindler must deal with their job and family pressures.A trio of con-men led by a lonesome swindler must deal with their job and family pressures.
- Awards
- 2 nominations
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Swindle (1955) is both a stand-alone movie and the centerpiece of Federico Fellini's unofficial "trilogy of loneliness," preceded by La Strada (1954) and followed by Nights of Cabiria (1957). All three are key works marking the last great moments of Italian neorealism, which was waning as central figures like Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De Sica moved on to different genres. In the 1950s, he still held the neorealist conviction that nothing is more dramatic than the lives of ordinary people transferred to the screen with a minimum of embellishment.
- Quotes
Augusto: We've gotta figure out something better. We can't go on like this.
Roberto: Who's saying we should? I'm not an idiot. This is just for fun, just to keep us going. I'm going to sing. When I save up some money, I'll take lessons. I've bought all the Johnnie Ray's records. He's really my style.
Augusto: You'll never take lessons.
Roberto: I'm not ending up like you!
- Alternate versionsThe Prime Video master, circulating on subscription services such as FilmBox, has been censored to blur out shots of actors smoking.
- ConnectionsEdited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: La monnaie de l'absolu (1999)
Featured review
Fellini picture that doesn't get the same amount of attention as his best films of 8 and a Half(1963), La Strada(1954), or La Dolce Vita(1960). One of the final Neo realism films the director did before turning his attention to films that were filled with colorful characterizations. Precusor to The Sting(1973) except this movie is not a comedy. About a conman who wants to reform after meeting his daughter for the first time in a long time. Broderick Crawford puts forth a sympathetic performance as the Veteren conman, Augusto. Its probably the best performance in the actor's long career. Il Bidone/The Swindle(1955) is the middle and least known film of the Loneliness trilogy which includes La Strada(1954) and Nights of Cabiria(1957). All three of these movies reveal that the characters are naive about life around them. Getting a little regconition from some people because of its release on Home Video for the first time. The final frame of the picture reminds me of a scene from Don't Torture a Duckling(1972).
Details
- Runtime1 hour 32 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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