Paisa
Date: 1946
Director: Roberto Rossellini
Production Company: Organizzazione Film Internazionali (OFI), Foreign Film Productions
Stars: Carmela Sazio, Gar Moore, William Tubbs, Robert Van Loon, Benjamin Emanuel, Raymond Campbell, Harold Wagner, Albert Heinze, Merlin Berth, Mats Carlson, Leonard Parrish, Dots Johnson, Alfonsino Pasca Maria Michi, Harriet Medin, Renzo Avanzo, Dale Edmonds, John Whaling Allen
Location(s): Firenze, Toscana, Roma, Lazio, Napoli, Campania, Sicilia
Region(s): Italy
Storyline:
Set during the Second World War, it tells six separate stories of love and camaraderie under fire. It follows American military personnel during the Italian Campaign interacting warily with a variety of locals as it winds its way through Italy over a period of eighteen months. During the push north it covers the landings in Sicily, to the liberation of Naples, Rome and Florence and on to the Po Valley.
Additional Information:
Originally uploaded in 2014 by John Tunstill when capture criteria was more stringent, it has now been re-visited by Manuel Gurtner who has provided addition screen captures and revised supporting text. Uploaded by Richard Lovejoy.
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- Capture 1
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Landing in Sicily.
- Capture 2
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Town piazza at night with the church in the background... church of San Domenico, via Roma, Maiori, Salerno (SJ).
- Capture 3
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A rather distinctive, castle and well worn bridge: possibly the Torre Normanna near Maiori, Salerno (SJ).
- Capture 4
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Torre Normanna, which can be seen on the Amalfi Drive just east of Maiori, Salerno appears also in "Beat the Devil" from 1953. (SJ)
- Capture 5
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During twilight, the view from north towards the Torre Normanna, also known as Salicerchio tower, built between 1534 and 1590.
- Capture 6
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Establishing shot before Episode 2. Parco Archeologico Paestum, located in the comune of Cappaccio, 35 km south of Salerno. In the foreground the First temple of Hera, called "Basilica" (built around 540 BC) and behind the Second temple of Hera, called "Poseidon temple" (built around 450 BC).
- Capture 7
- 31 May 2024
Central Naples... Steve Randall identified the Porta Capuana, an old city gate just northwest of the central station, looking from the Piazza San Francesco a Capuana towards the via Carbonara. (SJ)
When I got there 78 years later the crowd had dispersed. (SR)
- Capture 8
- 31 May 2024
Piazza San Domenico Maggiore with the base of the Obelisco di San Domenico in the background.
Railings now encircle the obelisk. (SR)
- Capture 9
- 31 May 2024
Street scene somewhere in Naples... Indeed Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, north of the main harbour. (SJ)
The scene today, with some colourful tourists, plus graffiti. (SR)
- Capture 10
- 31 May 2024
The tram of Line 2, driving along elongated Piazza Cavour, stops just opposite to the entrance of Napoli Piazza Cavour station, served by the Linea Napoli Pozzuoli and operated by the FS (Italian State Railways). So called "Metropolitana", the bypass route, opened in 1925, runs completely underground in the urban area between Napoli Mergellina station and Napoli Via Gianturco station and, in addition to the dense suburban traffic, used also by direct express trains from Rome to Sicily. The cupola in the background belongs to the Chiesa di Santa Maria del Rosario alle Pigne.
The station's appearance has changed and the trees have grown to hide the background buildings in this comparison shot. (SR)
- Capture 11
- 31 May 2024
The view along Piazza Cavour with the Chiesa di Santa Maria delle Grazie in the top left background and the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in the distance, (in)famous for his so called Gabinetto Segreto (Secret Cabinet or Secret Museum).
The view as it appears today. (SR)
- Capture 12
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The buildings, including the steps, on either side of the church were later demolished and replaced with apartment blocks. Piazza Cavour, Naples.
- Capture 13
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Wandering through war torn Naples back streets. As yet unknown location, but presumed to be on the way to the waterfront at Via Nuova Marina.
- Capture 14
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In the port area at the end of Via Nuova Marina. In the center right background the Palazzo dell’ Immacolata can be recognized.
- Capture 15
- 31 May 2024
Despite the ruinous backdrop, the statues on the building, background right can still be seen, it is the Piazza del Mercato, and the Chiesa di Santa Croce e Purgatorio al Mercato, inaugurated in 1791.
I encountered an empty Piazza del Mercato on my visit. (SR)
- Capture 16
- 31 May 2024
A very recognisable tower, but where in Naples is this? JT posed the question back in 2014 and Steve Randall provided the answer in 2022, Santa Maria del Carmine, Piazza del Carmine, 2, 801, Naples NA.
A current view, minus rubble. (SR)
- Capture 17
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As the 1942 Willys MB "Jeep" from the U.S. Military Police turns into Via Amerigo Vespucci, one of the ancient fortress towers of the Castello del Carmine can be recognised in the background. The campanile of the church Santa Maria del Carmine can also be see again.
- Capture 18
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The U.S. Army motorcade drives along Corso Umberto I towards Piazza Mancini, passing by the Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, allegedly founded around 1224. The camera position was from one of the small balconies of the corner building at the junction with Via Porta di Massa.
- Capture 19
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Again driving through the streets around Napoli. Probably back on the waterfront at Via Nuova Marina.
- Capture 20
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Large apartment block in downtown Naples.
- Capture 21
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Via Nuova Marina nearby the Chiesa di Santa Maria di Portosalvo, looking towards the spacious port area with a large store building.
- Capture 22
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Unidentified decorative gates.
- Capture 23
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The shanty settlement in the Mergellina district, at the then dead end of Via Fedro, leads to an abandoned tufa mine, which was converted into an air raid shelter. Later the entire area was overbuilt by a residential park with flats in the upper price range.
- Capture 24
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On the way back the MP vehicle passes the archway stretch of Via Fedro, located nearby Mergellina railway station.
- Capture 25
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Episode 3 is set in Rome, where a U.S. Army "Sherman" tank of Fisher M4 type poses at the western site of the Castel Sant'Angelo.
- Capture 26
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The Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome. (SR)
- Capture 27
- 17 Dec 2022
The Porta San Giovanni, Piazzale Appio, Rome. (SR)
I should be the other side of the gate, but this is to support the identification which has been long in the waiting. SJ
- Capture 28
- 31 May 2022
The Colosseum, Rome in the background.
The view from the via dei Fori Imperiali looking south-east. SJ
- Capture 29
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German Wehrmacht tank of Sturmpanzer 43 type at the western site of the Colosseum, running towards Via dei Fori Imperiali.
- Capture 30
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By the corner of Via Sacra and Via dei Verbiti.
- Capture 31
- 31 May 2022
The arco di Constantino to the south-west of the Colosseum.
Closed to traffic now: off-angle but then again, better than nothing. SJ
- Capture 32
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In front of the then Pasticceria Bar, located at Via Francesco Crispi, 4 to 8, just around the corner of the intersection Largo del Tritone.
- Capture 33
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Unidentified location.
- Capture 34
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Looking from the gloomy Via degli Avignonesi towards Via dei Serviti.
- Capture 35
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Unknown location.
- Capture 36
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Episode 4 begins at a large gateway on the road to Florence.
- Capture 37
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The first scenes take place in a US Army hospital. Unknown location.
- Capture 38
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The large square in front of the Palazzo Pitti, Firenze.
- Capture 39
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At the inner courtyard of the Palazzo Pitti.
- Capture 40
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Viale della Meridiana on the northern edge of the Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace in Florence. In the distance, located at the opposite site of the river Arno, the landmarking Arnolfo tower of the Palazzo Vecchio can be seen.
- Capture 41
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The rear of the Palazzo Pitti with the sloped access way for the Giardino di Boboli.
- Capture 42
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Ruins wasteland, with the dome of the church San Frediano in Cestello visible in the background.
- Capture 43
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Looking out from second floor of the Uffizi galleries, built between 1335 and 1345, downstream towards the Ponte Vecchio, spanning the Arno. In the left distance the spire of the Basilica del Santo Spirito can be seen, while the dome of San Frediano in Cestello can be seen in the right distance.
- Capture 44
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From another spot at the second floor of the Uffizi the view straight to the southern river bank. The striking Cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens) in the center above is still there, almost 80 years later!
- Capture 45
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Looking down from the Galleria degli Uffizi, Firenze. (SJ). The view over the inner courtyard, called Piazzale degli Uffizi, with the white marble sculpture Hercules and Cacus next to the corner of Palazzo Vecchio in the center background.
- Capture 46
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Casa di Fiammetta on the south end of Piazza Fiammetta just north of the Piazza Navona in Rome. (SJ)
- Capture 47
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Another view of Casa di Fiammetta on the south end of Piazza Fiammetta just north of the Piazza Navona in Rome. (SJ) On the right edge a doorway of the Palazzo Cesi, today the seat of the General Military Procuratorate (Uffici giudiziari militari superiori).
- Capture 48
- 20 Jun 2018
Piazza del Duomo, Florence. Looking from Via dei Pecori towards the Battistero di San Giovanni, behind the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore and Giotto's Campanile.
Richard Winchester provides an up to date shot for us revealing that the tram lines have gone. (RL)
- Capture 49
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Back in Rome with the view from the corner of Piazza Fiammetta and Via degli Acquasparta towards the Palazzo Cesi, behind the trees.
- Capture 50
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At the doorway of the property Piazza Fiammetta, 16, today the minor entrance of the Roman Catholic association USMI (Unione delle Superiore Maggiori d'Italia).
- Capture 51
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A small courtyard indeed, but obviously not that one of the later USMI building.
- Capture 52
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The rooftop access of the corner building Via Francesco Puccinotti, 105, located just opposite to Piazza della Costituzione, Firenze.
- Capture 53
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Looking from the rooftop along Via Francesco Puccinotti in direction of Piazza della Vittoria.
- Capture 54
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The rooftop view to the West across the Piazza della Costituzione, where Via XXIV (Ventiquattro) Maggio going off to the right.
- Capture 55
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Back in Rome once again, as we see the doorway to the corner building Via Montevideo, 13.
- Capture 56
- 14 Apr 2009
The place is in Rome, Via Lutezia 11 (the building with the arch) where Federico Fellini and Giulietta Masina lived (actually the apartment belongs to my family.) and where Fellini wrote with Roberto Rossellini, Sergio Amidei and Celeste Negarville the screenplay "Roma Citt… Aperta". Excellent personal information from Federico De Rosa, many thanks. So although the scene is set in Firenze, it apparently was actually filmed in Roma!
From the wonderful new service provided by Google, where they have driven through many of the principal streets in many of the major cities in the world to bring us more or less current views of the real streets that we want to see. Image copyright Google Streetview.
- Capture 57
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Wide road near the Arno... The approach to the Arno from Via Curtatone has the same grassy road division. (SJ) The gas holder facility on the opposite side of the river has now been dismantled.
- Capture 58
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Centre of Florence. More precisely Via Magenta at the intersection with Via Montebello and Via Il Prato in the background.
- Capture 59
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More street scenes. Actually just around the corner in Via Montebello, Florence with the entrance to today's property number 43 on the right. The corner building just next to it was later demolished.
- Capture 60
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The view across Via Solferino towards the corner with Via Magenta, Florence.
- Capture 61
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Ruins of Florence, located just opposite the property Via Solferino, 37.
- Capture 62
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Establishing shot for Episode 5, but so far unknown location. Otherwise there are only interior shots, allegedly taken in the Franciscan monastery at Maiori, Salerno.
- Capture 63
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In the Rovigo region. (SJ) View across the Po river towards the village of Tolle, located in the municipality of Porto Tolle, where the campanile of the original parish church can be seen. The church was demolished following the damage suffered during the flood in 1951 and later rebuilt as Chiesa della Beata Vergine del Rosario di Tolle.
- Capture 64
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Fishermen's structure by the mouth of the Po, probably somewhere at the Sacca degli Scardovari lagoon.
- Capture 65
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The rear of the building seen in the previous capture.