Harlem is a 1943 Italian sports crime film directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Massimo Girotti, Amedeo Nazzari and Vivi Gioi. It was shot at the Cinecittà Studios in Rome. The film's sets were designed by the art director Guido Fiorini. The former world heavyweight champion Primo Carnera appears in a small role. It is also known by the alternative title of Knock Out.
It is noted for its anti-Americanism at a time when the two countries were at war. In postwar re-releases, Amedeo's final line was redubbed with a more positive view on life in the United States.
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Synopsis
Tommaso Rossi, a young Italian goes to America to visit his elder brother Amedeo who has a business in the construction industry. He is discovered as a talented boxer after getting into a fight with a champion in a restaurant and flooring him. However his elder brother's business is wrecked and he is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Forced to fight in order to raise enough money to bail his brother, Tommaso is then told by a dying Amedeo to return to Italy as the American dream holds nothing for Italian American immigrants.
Cast
Massimo Girotti as Tommaso Rossi
Amedeo Nazzari as Amedeo Rossi
Vivi Gioi as Muriel
Elisa Cegani as La donna del gangster
Osvaldo Valenti as Chris Sherman
Erminio Spalla as Franckie Battaglia, l'allenatore
Enrico Glori as Ben Farrell
Lodovico Longo: as Charlie Lamb, a black boxer
Gianni Musy as Il piccolo Tony Rossi
Enrico Viarisio as Pat
Luigi Almirante as Barney Palmer
Greta Gonda as Milena Zvetcovic
Giuseppe Porelli as Il duca di Solimena
Mino Doro as Bill Black
Giovanni Grasso as Guardascione
Luigi Pavese as Joe Smith
Guglielmo Sinaz as Sinclair Roswell
Primo Carnera as Se stesso