The Machine to Kill Bad People

The Machine to Kill Bad People
Directed by	Roberto Rossellini
Written by	Sergio Amidei Giancarlo Vigorelli Franco Brusati Liana Ferri Roberto Rossellini Giuseppe Marotta Eduardo De Filippo
Produced by	Salvo D'Angelo
Starring	Marilyn Buferd William Tubbs Clara Bindi
Cinematography	Enrico Betti Berutto Tino Santoni
Edited by	Jolanda Benvenuti
Music by	Renzo Rossellini
Production companies	Tevere Film Universalia Film
Release date	14 May 1952 (1952-05-14)
Running time	80 minutes
Country	Italy
Language	Italian

The Machine to Kill Bad People (Italian: La Macchina ammazzacattivi) is a 1952 Italian fantasy comedy film directed by Roberto Rossellini and featuring Marilyn Buferd, William Tubbs and Clara Bindi.[1] It is part of the tradition of neorealism of the post-war years.[2] Having helped neorealism gain international recognition with his 1945 work Rome, Open City, Rossellini was trying to branch out into different styles.[3]

Production

Rossellini began shooting the film in 1948, but production was beset by many problems.[4] Location shooting took place around Amalfi, Salerno and Trani.

Synopsis

A stranger claiming to be Saint Andrea gives to the village photographer a magic camera with the power to destroy the wicked. When it becomes apparent that no one is immune the photographer turns the device on the giver, who is unmasked as a devil and forced to return everyone to life.

Cast

• Gennaro Pisano as Celestino
• Marilyn Buferd as American tourist
• William Tubbs as American tourist
• Helen Tubbs as American tourist
• Giovanni Amato as Mayor
• Clara Bindi as Giulietta Del Bello
• Giacomo Furia as Romano
• Aldo Giuffrè
• Carlo Giuffrè

References

1. Nowell-Smith p.104
2. Wagstaff p.437
3. Bondanella p.83-86
4. Brunette p.101

Bibliography

• Peter, Bondanella. The Films of Roberto Rossellini. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
• Brunette, Peter. Roberto Rossellini. University of California Press, 1996.
• Nowell-Smith, Geoffrey . The Companion to Italian Cinema. Cassell, 1996.
• Wagstaff, Christopher. Italian Neorealist Cinema: An Aesthetic Approach. University of Toronto Press, 2007.

External links

• Machine to Kill Bad People at IMDb 
• Review Essay https://www.academia.edu/3379967/The_Machine_that_Kills_Bad_People