A down-and-out crook on the lam befriends a young street urchin, in an Italian port city. At first amused that the boy is a sneak thief, he tries to deflects the kid from a life of crime. Tipped off by a woman anxious to collect the reward for him (who is wanted for murder), the police pursue the two lost souls.
Acting
Paul Muni's weathered, whispered final performance.
Cinematography
Losey's stark shadows in real Italian locations.
Direction
Hollywood exile finding neorealist poetry abroad.
Director
Joseph Losey
Paul Muni
The Stranger With A Gun
Joan Lorring
Angela, a lonely woman
Vittorio Manunta
Giacomo, a small boy
Luisa Rossi
Giacomo's Mother
Aldo Silvani
Peroni, the junk dealer
Arnoldo Foà
Inspector-in-Charge
Alfredo Varelli
The Neighborhood Patrolman
Héléna Manson
Grocery Store Clerk (victim)
Enrico Glori
Signor Pucci
Franco Balducci
Morelli
Leonardo Scavino
Mancini
Linda Sini
Signora Raffetto
Giulio Marchetti
Signor Raffetto
Giuseppe Addobbati
Henri Alekan
Priest on Bicycle
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Paul Muni insisted on minimal makeup and authentic locations, making this his most raw performance after years of studio polish.
Losey shot this while hiding from HUAC; the film's hunted-man paranoia is basically autobiographical.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
IT
