Italy's two greatestactresses, Magnani and Masina, teamed up for this moving prison drama.Magnani portrays the hard-boiled denizen of a women's prison who givesinnocent first-timer Masina a few too many lessons on life and crime."Pic is dominated by Anna Magnani's personality andperformance," said Variety, "probably her best to date, whichperforce pales such other excellent performances as that of GiuliettaMasina and some others. The Magnani role is made to order for hertalents and temperaments. The film would be worth seeing for herperformance alone. However, this is a well-constructed, strongly wordedand colorful item per se, in which the hand of Renato Castellani isnoted. His direction rarely errs."