Pasolini's directorial debut is a dark piece of late Italian neorealism, about a pimp/slacker who's too weak to labor, too lazy to steal, too proud to beg, too angry to love and too selfish to do anyone much good. The writing is strong, though, and the protagonist does show some humanity; if only he was willing to work at that. 6.5/10

(Saw it on a Water Bearer Films DVD made from a fuzzy print with sometimes-unreadable subtitles. Hopefully Criterion or someone will make a sharper version.)

A grim story of Rome's underclass -- mobsters, prostitutes, and pimps. A solid entry in the neorealist canon, but with added dramatic flair.

Sad, sad movie. Exquisitely filmed, however.