Renato Castellani directed Two Cents Worth of Hope, the third part of Castellani’s Young Love trilogy, following Sotto il sole di Roma (1948) and È primavera...(1950).
It shared the Grand Prix prize with Orson Welles’ Othello at the 1952 Cannes Film Festival.
The story concerns the romance between Carmela (Fiore) and Antonio (Musolino). A strong young woman, Carmela is determined to conquer any obstacle in pursuing her desire. Once he’s “hooked,” Antonio scurries from job to job in order to prove his financial viability.
Faced with their parents hostility, Carmela and Antonio shed themselves of all responsibilities to others in a climactic act of bravado.
Cast
Maria Fiore – Carmela
Vincenzo Musolino – Antonio
Filomena Russo – Antonio’s Mother
Luigi Astarita – Pasquale Artu
Luigi Barone – The priest
Carmela Cirillo – Giulia
Felicità Lettieri – Signora Artu
Gina Mascetti – Flora Angelini
Alfonso Del Sorbo – Sacrestano
Tommaso Balzamo – Luigi Bellomo
Anna Raiola – Signora Bellomo
Credits:
Directed, written by Renato Castellani
Produced by Sandro Ghenzi
Written by Renato Castellani
Vincenzo Musolino
Music by Alessandro Cicognini; Nino Rota
Cinematography Arturo Gallea
Distributed by Les Films Marceau (France); Times Film Corporation (US)
Running time 110 minutes.
