Giuseppe De Santis (11 February 1917 – 16 May 1997) was an Italian film director. One of the most idealistic neorealist filmmakers of the 1940s and 1950s, he wrote and directed films punctuated by ardent cries for social reform. In 1942, De Santis collaborated on the script for Ossessione, Luchino Visconti's debut film, which is usually considered one of the first neo-realist films. His third film Bitter Rice (1950), the story of a young woman working in the rice fields who must choose between two socially disparate suitors, made a star of Silvana Mangano and was a landmark of the new cinematic style. It also earned De Santis an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Story.
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Biography from TMDB.
- February 11, 1917
- May 16, 1997 (aged 80)
- Fondi, Lazio, Italy
- Writer, director and actor
- 6 on MovieCove · 23 credits in all
What are Giuseppe De Santis' films like?
Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Society.
Genres
Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.
Themes
What they feel like to watch
Ironic 0 · Wry 0 · Earnest 7
A split, not a type: Light 3 · Serious 2 · Dark 2
Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0
Gentle 2 · Charged 3 · Intense 2
Steady 3 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 0
Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0
Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0
Casual 3 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0
A split, not a type: Easy watch 3 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 2
Resolved 7 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0
Moods and endings
- Happy1
- Bittersweet4
- Tragic1
- Ambiguous1
AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.
Where can I watch Giuseppe De Santis' films?
As of October 24, 2026, 1 of their 6 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, on The Criterion Channel (1).
Subscription and free streaming for Giuseppe De Santis' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.
Filmography
23 credits, 6 with a MovieCove page; 5 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.
National Theatre Live: Obsession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)
Necro not(to b)e (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)
I'll Teach You to Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)
One Appreciated Professional of Sure Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)
God Will Forgive My Pistol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)
Attack and Retreat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)
The Visit(1963)
Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films
The Apartment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)
The Year Long Road(1958)
Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films
Engaged to Death(1957)
Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)
Men and Wolves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)
Ricordami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)
Days of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)
Angels of Darkness(1954)
Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films
A Husband for Anna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)
Rome 11:00 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)
Under the Olive Tree (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)
Bitter Rice(1949)
Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films
Tragic Hunt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)
Outcry (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Desire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)
Days of Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)
Obsession(1943)
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Career shape
A full career of 23 titles from 1943 to 2017.
Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.
How do Giuseppe De Santis' films land?
Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 79th percentile, the median of all 6; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 70th percentile for acclaim.
- 75th and up3
- 50th to 74th2
- 25th to 49th1
Shape of the crowd
2 of their 6 titles are Universally Loved.
- Universally Loved2
- Cult Classic1
- Crowd Pleaser2
- Mixed1
Reviewers score the dialogue 63/100 and the plot and story 64/100 in their films, across 4 reviewed titles. The element that speaks to their work as a writer.
Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.
Who does Giuseppe De Santis work with?
People who share at least 2 of Giuseppe De Santis' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Gianni Puccini shares the most, 4.
Writers
- Gianni PucciniShared titles: The Year Long Road (1958), Angels of Darkness (1954), Bitter Rice (1949), Obsession (1943)See all 4 shared titles with Gianni Puccini
- Carlo LizzaniShared titles: Luchino Visconti (1999), Bitter Rice (1949)See all 2 shared titles with Carlo Lizzani
- Antonio PietrangeliShared titles: The Visit (1963), Obsession (1943)See all 2 shared titles with Antonio Pietrangeli
- Elio PetriShared titles: The Year Long Road (1958), Angels of Darkness (1954)See all 2 shared titles with Elio Petri
Actors
- Massimo GirottiShared titles: Luchino Visconti (1999), The Year Long Road (1958), Obsession (1943)See all 3 shared titles with Massimo Girotti
- Vittorio GassmanShared titles: Luchino Visconti (1999), Bitter Rice (1949)See all 2 shared titles with Vittorio Gassman
Editors
- Eraldo Da RomaShared titles: The Visit (1963), Engaged to Death (1957)See all 2 shared titles with Eraldo Da Roma
- Gabriele VarrialeShared titles: Angels of Darkness (1954), Bitter Rice (1949)See all 2 shared titles with Gabriele Varriale
Mixed roles
- Luchino ViscontiShared titles: Luchino Visconti (1999), Obsession (1943)See all 2 shared titles with Luchino Visconti
