Perfect title for the Criterion Collection!

You're so right!!

This is one of the most remarkable films I have ever seen, and very strangely it hasn't been noticed that much by the critics or by the specialised distributors (like Criterion).

I shall write to them, if it is a matter of "suggesting" that this is essential for any serious collection of movies.

Came to this board specifically to see if anyone mentioned this, and I'm pleased to see several others had this thought. How is this NOT a prime candidate for the Criterion treatment? I checked out what turned out to be the Madacy release of this film from my college library, and it's easily one of the most appalling transfers I've ever seen. I may just add my voice to Criterion's suggestion box.

just sent them an e-mail about this title. I hope they listen. It can use a restoration big time.

I don't think the film is that great, but I feel that way about plenty of Criterion films, and overall I'd say it meets their standard of quality. Also, it's a De Sica film, and while Criterion puts more emphasis on the quality of the individual film than, say, Masters of Cinema (where the emphasis is almost solely on the quality of the filmmaker), the prestige that comes with names like De Sica has certainly proven a deciding factor for Criterion in many cases. And putting aside any debates over the greatness of the film, it's certainly quality cinema that deserves proper treatment -- I don't think anyone is going to argue that -- and right now it hasn't gotten it. The DVD-R copy I bought from a distributor called A2ZCD's or something like that was literally the worst quality DVD I've ever seen (and I've seen some doozies). The film deserves to be tended to. It's an important part of De Sica's body of work, not to mention Sophia Loren's (and Jean-Paul Belmondo, for that matter), and it's a quality film in itself. It may not be "Rome Open City", but honestly I don't think it misses the mark by all that much. Somebody needs to take care of this film. Criterion seems like the right man for the job. But I'd be happy just to see a real, proper, quality release of the film, from anyone.