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La sfida ("the challenge") is a 1958 Italian film by Francesco Rosi. It stars José Suárez as a gang leader who challenges a local Camorra boss for supremacy. It won the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival. The film is based on the real-life story of Camorra boss Pasquale Simonetti, known as Pasquale 'e Nola, and his wife and former beauty queen Pupetta Maresca, played by Rosanna Schiaffino. It was produced by the Italian companies Cinecittà and Vides Cinematografica and the Spanish companies Lux Film and Suevia Films.
Original Release
09/06/1958
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Rosanna Schiaffino | Assunta |
| José Suárez | Vito Polara |
| Nino Vingelli | Gennaro |
| Decimo Cristiani | Salvatore Ajello / Raffaele |
| Tina Castigliano | Madre di Vito |
| Pasquale Cennamo | Fernando Ajello / Salvatore Ajello |
| Elsa Valentino Ascoli | Madre di Assunta |
| Jose Jaspe | Raffaele / Ferdinando Ajello |
| Nello Ascoli | |
| Salvatore Cafiero |
Directors
Writers
Francesco Rosi, Suso Cecchi d'Amico, Enzo Provenzale
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Rosanna Schiaffino | Assunta |
| José Suárez | Vito Polara |
| Nino Vingelli | Gennaro |
| Decimo Cristiani | Salvatore Ajello / Raffaele |
| Tina Castigliano | Madre di Vito |
| Pasquale Cennamo | Fernando Ajello / Salvatore Ajello |
| Elsa Valentino Ascoli | Madre di Assunta |
| Jose Jaspe | Raffaele / Ferdinando Ajello |
| Nello Ascoli | |
| Salvatore Cafiero | |
| Guido Cante | |
| Gennaro Di Napoli | |
| Elsa Fiore | |
| Ferdinando Gerra | |
| Ubaldo Granata | Califano |
| Giosué Ippolito | |
| Mario Laurentino | |
| Guglielmo Spoletini | |
| Pasquale Tartaro | |
| Renato Terra |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Enzo Provenzale | Producer |
| Franco Cristaldi | Producer |
