Bitter Rice
“An earthy drama of human passions among women rice workers in the Po Valley.”
Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.
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Cast
21 people
Doris Dowling
Francesca
Known for
The Lost Weekend
The Blue Dahlia
Silvana Mangano
Silvana
Known for
Theorem
Dune
Vittorio Gassman
Walter
Known for
Il Sorpasso
Big Deal on Madonna Street
Raf Vallone
Marco
Known for
The Godfather Part III
The Italian Job
Checco Rissone
Aristide
Known for
Miracle in Milan
Bread, Love and Dreams
Nico Pepe
Beppe
Known for
Gentlemen Are Born
The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse
Adriana Sivieri
Celeste
Also in
Behind Closed Shutters
At the Edge of the City
Lia Corelli
Amelia
Also in
The Rape of the Sabine
Desire
Maria Grazia Francia
Gabriella
Also in
Rome 11:00
Yellow Devil
Dedi Ristori
Anna
Also in
Miracles Only Happen Once
Turri il bandito
Anna Maestri
Irene
Also in
Totò Looking for Wife
Let's Arm Ourselves and Go!
Mariemma Bardi
Gianna
Also in
Anna
Boy
Giuseppe De Santis Director · Ivo Perilli Screenplay Carlo Lizzani Screenplay
United States release September 18, 1950 · Produced in Italy · Original title Riso amaro
Production
Lux Film
Production
Italy
Produced in
Languages
Original title
Riso amaro
Original language
Italian
Spoken on screen
Italian
Release dates
France · September 7, 1949
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
Italy · September 30, 1949
Theatrical
United States · September 18, 1950
Theatrical
France
October 7, 1949 · Theatrical
April 12, 2026 · TV · France 3 (Cinéma de minuit)
June 17, 2026 · Theatrical · Re-release, 4k restoration (Les Acacias)
Germany
October 27, 1950 · Theatrical
Netherlands
January 9, 2007 · Physical · DVD
Russia
February 1, 1967 · Theatrical
March 17, 1967 · Theatrical · (Moscow)
Sweden
September 18, 1950 · Theatrical
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Some details come from TheTVDB.