The Machine That Kills Bad People

1952 1h 25m IT

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 47

ComedyFantasy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In Amalfi, a village on the Italian coast, an old man who seems to have strange powers gives Celestino Esposito, the local photographer, a dangerous ability.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Giovanni Amato
The Mayor
Marilyn Buferd
American Girl
Pietro Carloni
Joseph Falletta
Joe
Gennaro Pisano
Celestino Esposito
Helen Tubbs
American Girl's Mother
William Tubbs
American Girl's Father
Clara Bindi
Giulietta Del Bello (uncredited)

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Roberto Rossellini
Writers: Eduardo De Filippo, Giancarlo Vigorelli, Liana Ferri
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

85 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

74 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Roberto Rossellini, shot by Enrico Betti Berutto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Renzo Rossellini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jolanda Benvenuti shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Giovanni Amato and Marilyn Buferd and Pietro Carloni carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0040559 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 47 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Roberto Rossellini directs. Enrico Betti Berutto behind the camera. Renzo Rossellini scores. Jolanda Benvenuti cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

185 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
274 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
3Directed by Roberto Rossellini, shot by Enrico Betti Berutto. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Renzo Rossellini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Jolanda Benvenuti shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Giovanni Amato and Marilyn Buferd and Pietro Carloni carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0040559 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 47 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.