The Machine to Kill Bad People (Italian: La Macchina ammazzacattivi) is a 1952 Italian fantasy comedy film directed by Roberto Rossellini and featuring Marilyn Buferd, William Tubbs and Clara Bindi.Nowell-Smith p.104 It is part of the tradition of neorealism of the post-war years.Wagstaff p.437 Having helped neorealism gain international recognition with his 1945 work Rome, Open City, Rossellini was trying to branch out into different styles.Bondanella p.83-86
Production Rossellini began shooting the film in 1948, but production was beset by many problems.Brunette p.101 Location shooting took place around Amalfi, Salerno and Trani.
Synopsis A stranger claiming to be Saint Andrea gives to the village photographer a magic camera with the power to destroy the wicked. When it becomes apparent that no one is immune the photographer turns the device on the giver, who is unmasked as a devil and forced to return everyone to life.
Cast Gennaro Pisano as Celestino Marilyn Buferd as American tourist William Tubbs as American tourist Helen Tubbs as American tourist Giovanni Amato as Mayor Clara Bindi as Giulietta Del Bello Giacomo Furia as Romano Aldo Giuffrè Carlo Giuffrè
References
Bibliography Peter, Bondanella. The Films of Roberto Rossellini. Cambridge University Press, 1993. Brunette, Peter. Roberto Rossellini. University of California Press, 1996. Nowell-Smith, Geoffrey . The Companion to Italian Cinema. Cassell, 1996. Wagstaff, Christopher. Italian Neorealist Cinema: An Aesthetic Approach. University of Toronto Press, 2007.
External links
Review Essay https://www.academia.edu/3379967/The_Machine_that_Kills_Bad_People