La Strada

3/20/2024

Anthony Quinn is nigh on perfect for the "Zampanò" role here. He is a travelling strongman who buys "Gelsomina" (Giulietta Masina) from her mother for a pretty paltry sum and some food. She's none-too-pleased with her new, nomadic, life and he is not exactly the ideal companion. In fact, he's a bit of a thug! She's no shrinking violet, though, and after some failed attempts at escape, determines that this is her new life and that she is going to make the best of things. Might she even end up enjoying this life? Enter the nimble and agile tight-rope walker rather unkindly referred to as "The Fool" (Richard Basehart) whom she befriends, and he starts to open her eyes to another, hitherto unconsidered, possibility about the bullish "Zampanò" and the rationale behind his behaviour towards her.