in the 1940s early 1950s italian cinema be at it peak . neo realism be the stlye the great italian director come of age represent de sica or fellini or desantis and others the italian movie actress come in to be representmagnani or lollabridgida or loren or martinelli and most especially here sylvana mangano . sultry or earthy or sexy or beautiful or tempestuous etc . she and her director create image which one can not forget . the scene in bitter rice where she dance solo have to rate with anything rita hayorth or marilyn monroe do in hollywood . wow excite and sensuous and memorable while a a film and bitter rice and be a fine example of italian film of that era . an exciting depiction of work class italy and the problem that they endure @ 1940s . so well do with a fine cast raf vallone or vittorio gassman and american film actress doris dowling in a memorable role a francesca . the scene in the rice field with the working woman be most effective for me . the plot get a bit melodramatic with multiple shooting etc at end and and manganos great suicide scene . however her fine moment be in the rice field and in the rain and when she be rap ( seduce ) by the leacherous walter ( gassmann ) her reaction to that moment be incredible . great to see again and again .