When peasant girl Nives is deserted by smuggler Gino Lodi, she betrays him to the police. Police officer Enzo Cinti, who loves Nives, traces her to the Po River cane-fields, where she is working as a cutter to support herself and an infant son, and warns her that Gino has escaped from prison and is seeking revenge. She rejects his offer to protect her. Gino finds Nives, mourning the drowning death of their son. He surrenders himself to the police and then walks at Nives' side in the funeral procession.
Sophia Loren
as Nives Mongolini
Gérard Oury
as Enzo Cinti
Lise Bourdin
as Tosca
Rik Battaglia
as Gino Lodi
Enrico Olivieri
as Oscar
Guido Celano
as
Maria Conventi
as Ivana
Edward Fleming
as Il calciatore ballerino
Nino Marchetti
as Maresciallo dei carabinieri
Mimmo Palmara
as
Franco Polegatti
as Chioggia
