Introduction

The White Ship (Italian: La nave bianca) is a 1941 Italian war film directed by Roberto Rossellini.

The film forms part of Rossellini’s “Fascist trilogy” along with A Pilot Returns (1942) and L’uomo dalla Croce (1943).

Outline

During World War II, a young Italian sailor falls in love with a schoolteacher before returning to service on a warship. During the Battle of Cape Teulada against the Royal Navy, he is wounded and transferred to a hospital ship. There he is reunited with his lover, who is now working as a nurse.

Cast

• Augusto Basso … A Stoker (uncredited)
• Elena Fondi Elena Fondi … A Nurse (uncredited)

Background

It was the first feature film directed by Rossellini, and commenced what has been described as his “Fascist Trilogy” which also includes A Pilot Returns (1942) and The Man with a Cross (1943). Along with a number of other films of the era, it is considered a precursor to Italian neorealism. Rossellini went on to be a leading Italian filmmaker, and a major figure in the development of neorealism.

Trivia

• Its cast was made up entirely of amateur actors, many of them the real crew of a hospital ship of the Italian navy, the ‘Arno’.
• The production was a work of propaganda intended to support the war aims of the Fascist Italian regime during the Second World War.
• It was made with the close co-operation of the Italian Navy, particularly Francesco De Robertis.
• Vittorio Mussolini, the son of the Italian dictator, was also a supporter of the project.
• The film was screened at the 1941 Venice Film Festival, before going on general release the following year.
  • Because of this 1941 and 1942 are both often cited as its release date.
  • It was awarded the Cup of the National Fascist Party at Venice.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Roberto Rossellini
• Producer(s):
• Writer(s):
  • Francesco De Robertis … (screenplay) (uncredited)
  • Francesco De Robertis … (story) (uncredited)
  • Roberto Rossellini … (screenplay) (uncredited)
• Music:
  • Renzo Rossellini
• Cinematography:
  • Giuseppe Caracciolo
• Editor(s):
  • Eraldo Da Roma
• Production:
  • Centro Cinematografico del Ministero della Marina
  • Scalera Film
• Distributor(s):
  • Scalera Film
• Release Date: 14 September 1941 (Venice Film Festival, Italy).
• Running Time: 77 minutes.
• Rating: Unknown.
• Country: Italy.
• Language: Italian.

Video Link(s)