In a small seaside village near Naples they survive not just by fishing, but also by smuggling.

Communal fishing motorboats with very powerful engines move in alongside the large ships and collect the precious merchandise thrown into the sea.

The coastguard gives merciless chase. Amongst these duty-bound officers is brigadier Carlo who is the most determined, and therefore doesn’t forgive Paolino, a simple appointee, the way in which he tries to justify his comrades.

Carlo is in love, and he is engaged to Laura, Mario’s sister who runs one of the most suspected motorboats. On land the merchandise is collected and paid for, and Mario, from a Greek man, Petropulos, a shady, unscrupulous character who, aside from danger, also likes women and fighting.

Mario and his men congregate in “The Sunny Tavern” owned by Don Gennaro.

He is their leader. A former truck driver and therefore respected by everyone.

Rosa, Don Gennaro’s daughter, is loved by and in love with Mario. One night Mario’s motorboat, which has collected some full sacks in the wake of a steamer, is spotted by the police and they give chase. But, as usual, the smugglers get away because their boats are faster. The merchandise is hidden in a cave dug into the rock by the waves, far away from any law enforcement, where it will then be loaded onto a truck that will transport it to its destination without running any more risks.

The next day, during a baptism ceremony in “The Sunny Tavern”, the deputy brigadier, Paolino, who finds himself amongst the invited guests, manages to find out where the merchandise is being hidden and, without saying a word to anyone in the hope of earning himself a promotion to brigadier, he sets off on his search.

That night, Petropulos has his suspicions about what he’s up to and kills Paolino. His body is discovered near some rocks…

The above synopsis is a loose translation of the censor report synopsis (scan posted further down)

Locandina (edmondomovie)

Critical response

“A film less modest in its intentions than its results. With the talent available they could and should have done better […]. We recognise the good intentions and there are some good scenes with sincere performances from almost all of the cast: unfortunately these few things are not enough to make an acceptable film”

“Un film meno modesto nelle intenzioni che nei risultati. Con il gruppo di artisti a disposizione si poteva e si doveva fare di meglio […]. Riconosciamo la buona volontà, consideriamo qualche buona scena e l’onesto lavoro di quasi tutti gli interpreti: purtroppo queste poche cose non sono sufficienti per fare un film accettabile”. (A. Albertazzi, “Intermezzo”, n. 19 del 15/10/1949).

Official censor report from 1948 (courtesy of ItaliaTaglia)

Availability

As of 2020 this is another early crime entry which is currently missing in action. According to a fellow film enthusiast, the last documented sighting was a private regional television broadcast in 1986 on TR Monte Kronio.