WITHOUT PITY

Filmed in 1948 as Senza Pieta, the film is an example of Italian Neo-Realism. As World War II ends, some African-American soldiers refused to abandon northern Italy to return to the United States, due to the racial intolerance there; deserting instead. Of them, Jerry (John Kitzmiller) falls in love with Angela (Carla Del Poggio), a local girl, who has fallen on hard times after the war.The film’s sensitive subject matter caused problems in distribution. Without Pity was banned in the United States and British occupation zones in Germany, but was popular with Italian audiences.