The City Defends Itself

The City Defends Itself

The Sensational Venice Award Winner for the GREATEST ITALIAN FILM OF THE YEAR

1951 · 80 min · ★ 6.1 · Crime, Drama

Four criminals commit a robbery at a soccer stadium, and then split up to try to hide separately from the police.

Directed by Pietro Germi · Written by Federico Fellini

Your Rating

Cast

Make it a double feature

3h 15m together

The City Defends Itself

The Railroad Man

Both from Pietro Germi.

More from Pietro GermiSee all →

Blood FeudBlood Feud · 1961
Blood Feud
★ 8.21961
MovieDramaCrime
An industrial overpowered by debts decides to kill his creditor. Not having the courage to do it in person, he hired his former employee who needs money.
My FriendsMy Friends · 1975
My Friends
★ 8.11975
MovieComedy
Four inseparable friends try to face their midlife crisis with daytrips and pranks at the expense of their families and the people around them.
Il figlio del corsaro rossoIl figlio del corsaro rosso · 1943
Il figlio del corsaro rosso
★ 8.01943
MovieAdventure
Son of the Red Corsair (and nephew of the Black Corsair), departs for the Americas to search for his long-lost half-sister.
Divorce Italian StyleDivorce Italian Style · 1961
Divorce Italian Style
★ 7.91961
MovieComedyCrime
Ferdinando Cefalù is desperate to marry his cousin, Angela, but he is married to Rosalia and divorce is illegal in Italy. To get around the law, he tries to trick his wife into having an affair so he can catch her and murder her, as he knows he would be given a light sentence for killing an adulterous woman. He persuades a painter to lure his wife into an affair, but Rosalia proves to be more faithful than he expected.
The Railroad ManThe Railroad Man · 1956
The Railroad Man
★ 7.81956
MovieDrama
Train operator Andrea Marcocci has to witness the suicide of a desperate man who jumps in front of his train. Under the influence of this shock he starts making mistakes. A check up by a doctor reveals that he's at the brink of becoming an alcoholic. Due to this evaluation he is degraded and must accept a salary cut.
Seduced and AbandonedSeduced and Abandoned · 1964
Seduced and Abandoned
★ 7.71964
MovieComedyDrama
The film presents the tale of Agnese Ascalone, daughter of prominent miner Vincenzo Ascalone, and takes place in a small town in Sicily. Agnese is seduced by her sister Matilde's fiancé, and has a tryst with him for which she confesses and tries to repent, only to be discovered by her mother and father.
Escape to FranceEscape to France · 1948
Escape to France
★ 7.21948
MovieDrama
A former Fascist takes his son and escapes across the border into France, where he tries to avoid being recognized and having to pay for his wartime crimes.
The Facts of MurderThe Facts of Murder · 1959
The Facts of Murder
★ 7.21959
MovieMysteryCrime
A police inspector comes into contact with people of all types and dispositions during a grueling murder investigation.
Man of StrawMan of Straw · 1958
Man of Straw
★ 7.21958
MovieDramaRomance
Andrea Zaccardi has returned home from hunting. He and his wife Luisa are very close. Their young son Giulio develops a cough. The doctor recommends the seaside. Luisa leaves with Giulio for several weeks. Andrea stays to work at the metal shop.
The Birds, the Bees and the ItaliansThe Birds, the Bees and the Italians · 1966
The Birds, the Bees and the Italians
★ 7.21966
MovieComedy
An anthology presents three storylines, all set in the Italian town of Treviso: A husband pretends to be impotent as a cover for having an affair; a bank clerk abandons his wife for his mistress, but the rest of the town's husbands become jealous and unite to conspire against them; and local men all seduce a promiscuous young woman, but when her father eventually reveals that she is underage, they all face prosecution for statutory rape.
In the Name of the LawIn the Name of the Law · 1949
In the Name of the Law
★ 7.21949
MovieDramaCrime
A young, by-the-book judge is appointed to a Sicilian village controlled by corrupt leaders and the mafia.
Against the LawAgainst the Law · 1950
Against the Law
★ 6.51950
MovieCrime
A young bourgeois who launders money for the mafia gets accused of murder.
The Bandit of Tacca del LupoThe Bandit of Tacca del Lupo · 1952
The Bandit of Tacca del Lupo
★ 6.41952
MovieActionDrama
In 19th century southern Italy (near Melfi, Basilicata), a small force of soldiers fight in the hills against the bandits who are holding their country to ransom.
JealousyJealousy · 1953
Jealousy
★ 6.41953
MovieDrama
A Sicilian nobleman is very jealous of his mistress and when she gets married flies off his handle and commits a murder of which an innocent man is accused. He is however tormented by his conscience.
Alfredo, AlfredoAlfredo, Alfredo · 1972
Alfredo, Alfredo
★ 6.31972
MovieComedyRomance
Alfredo, a timid young Italian, lusts after and woos the beautiful Maria Rosa. But when he manages to marry her, he discovers life is not nearly so blissful as he expected.
The LovemakersThe Lovemakers · 1961
The Lovemakers
★ 6.31961
MovieDrama
The death of a wealthy patriarch in 1885 sets off an interfamily power struggle. Son Ferdinando buys out his other relatives in order to gain full control over the dead man's property. But Ferdinando's nephew Amerigo holds out. Amerigo's stance is weakened when he heads for Florence and meets prostitute Bianca.

More Like This

Le Deuxième SouffleLe Deuxième Souffle · 1966
Le Deuxième Souffle
★ 7.71966
MovieActionDrama
A gangster escapes jail and quickly makes plans to continue his criminal ways elsewhere, but a determined inspector is closing in.
Straight TimeStraight Time · 1978
Straight Time
★ 7.11978
MovieCrimeDrama
After being released on parole, a burglar attempts to go straight, get a regular job, and just go by the rules. He soon finds himself back in jail at the hands of a power-hungry parole officer.
WheelmanWheelman · 2017
Wheelman
★ 6.12017
MovieActionCrime
A getaway driver for a bank robbery realizes he has been double crossed and races to find out who betrayed him.
BusterBuster · 1988
Buster
★ 5.61988
MovieComedyRomance
Buster is a small time crook who pulls a big time job. When he finds that the police will not let the case drop, he goes into hiding and can't contact his wife and child. He arranges to meet them in Mexico where he thinks they can begin again, but finds that he must choose between his family and freedom.
The Wrong ManThe Wrong Man · 1956
The Wrong Man
★ 7.11956
MovieCrimeDrama
In 1953, an innocent man named Christopher Emmanuel "Manny" Balestrero is arrested after being mistaken for an armed robber.
L.A. TakedownL.A. Takedown · 1989
L.A. Takedown
★ 5.41989
MovieCrimeThriller
The tale of two skilled professionals--one a cop, the other a criminal--who aren't as different as they think. Vincent Hanna is an intense cop on the trail of ruthless armed robber Patrick McLaren. After a botched heist, the two men confront each via a full scale battle on the seedy streets of Los Angeles.
Bob le FlambeurBob le Flambeur · 1956
Bob le Flambeur
★ 7.31956
MovieDramaAction
In Paris, Bob Montagne is practically synonymous with gambling -- and winning. He is kind, classy and well-liked by virtually everyone in town, including police inspector Ledru. However, when Bob's luck turns sour, he begins to lose friends and makes the most desperate gamble of his life: to rob the Deauville casino during Grand Prix weekend, when the vaults are full. Unfortunately, Bob soon learns that the game is rigged and the cops are on to him.
American BuffaloAmerican Buffalo · 1996
American Buffalo
★ 5.41996
MovieDramaCrime
Three inner-city losers plan a robbery of a valuable coin in a seedy second-hand junk shop.
Blood and WineBlood and Wine · 1996
Blood and Wine
★ 5.71996
MovieCrimeThriller
A man who has failed as a father and husband commits a heist to make money for his fledging business, but things become complicated when his wife interferes.
The BrainThe Brain · 1969
The Brain
★ 7.31969
MovieCrimeComedy
Arthur and Anatole are two little robbers. They want to rob money, money that will travel in a special train from Paris to Bruxelles. They don't know that other people have planned to do the same thing.
The Living EndThe Living End · 1992
The Living End
★ 6.71992
MovieCrimeDrama
Two HIV-positive young men — a semi-employed film critic and a hot hustler — tear off on a cross-country crime spree.
Flic StoryFlic Story · 1975
Flic Story
★ 6.41975
MovieCrimeThriller
The film story depicts Emile Buisson, following the death of his wife and child, escaping from a psychiatric institution in 1947 and returning to Paris. Buisson, who three years later would become France's public enemy number one, begins a murderous rampage through the French capital.
Dead Man RunningDead Man Running · 2009
Dead Man Running
★ 5.82009
MovieActionCrime
A loan shark gives ex-con Nick a period of 24 hours in order to pay back the money he owes. Up against it, Nick involves his best mate on a multi-part mission in order to raise the cash before it's too late for them both

Rate this film

Your ratings make Midnight smarter