Bitter Rice
“An earthy drama of human passions among women rice workers in the Po Valley.”
Francesca and Walter are two-bit criminals in Northern Italy, and, in an effort to avoid the police, Francesca joins a group of women rice workers. She meets the voluptuous peasant rice worker, Silvana, and the soon-to-be-discharged soldier, Marco. Walter follows her to the rice fields, and the four characters become involved in a complex plot involving robbery, love, and murder.
Where to watch Bitter Rice in United States
Criterion Channel
Amazon Video
Apple TV Store
Google Play Movies
YouTube
Fandango At HomeClick a service to open Bitter Rice there. Availability last verified on June 21, 2026.
Where is Bitter Rice streaming around the world?
| Country | Streaming on | Rent / Buy |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Criterion Channel | Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies |
| Canada | Criterion Channel | Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube |
| Germany | — | Apple TV Store, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies |
| France | Molotov TV, SFR Play | Canal VOD, Orange VOD, Amazon Video |
| Spain | Filmin | — |
| Japan | Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FOD | Amazon Video, FOD |
About Bitter Rice
Bitter Rice is a 1949 Italian-language drama and crime film directed by Giuseppe De Santis. The cast is led by Doris Dowling, Silvana Mangano, Vittorio Gassman. It has a runtime of 1h 49m. Viewers rate it 7.5/10 across 200 ratings. In United States, it is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.
Bitter Rice was produced by Lux Film and made in Italy. It was released on September 30, 1949.
- Director
- Giuseppe De Santis
- Writers
- Giuseppe De Santis, Corrado Alvaro, Ivo Perilli
- Release date
- September 30, 1949
- Original language
- Italian
- Status
- Released
- Country
- Italy
- Production
- Lux Film
Bitter Rice cast & crew
Bitter Rice was directed by Giuseppe De Santis and written by Giuseppe De Santis, Corrado Alvaro, and Ivo Perilli.
The cast features Doris Dowling as Francesca, Silvana Mangano as Silvana, Vittorio Gassman as Walter, Raf Vallone as Marco, Checco Rissone as Aristide, and Nico Pepe as Beppe.
Behind the camera, the score was composed by Goffredo Petrassi, cinematography is by Otello Martelli, and it was produced by Dino De Laurentiis.
Is Bitter Rice worth watching?
Bitter Rice holds an audience score of 7.5/10 from 228 ratings, marking it as well-reviewed drama films.
At 1h 49m, it's a standard feature-length watch.
If you enjoy drama and crime, Bitter Rice is worth a place on your watchlist.
How and where to watch Bitter Rice
In United States, you can stream Bitter Rice on Criterion Channel, or rent and buy it on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and YouTube. Click any service above to open it directly.
Streaming rights change country by country and month by month, so the options above reflect United States today — switch your country at the top of the where-to-watch section to see availability elsewhere.
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Cast of Bitter Rice
Doris Dowling
Francesca
Silvana Mangano
Silvana
Vittorio Gassman
Walter
Raf Vallone
Marco
Checco Rissone
Aristide
Nico Pepe
Beppe
Adriana Sivieri
Celeste
Lia Corelli
Amelia
Maria Grazia Francia
Gabriella
Dedi Ristori
Anna
Anna Maestri
Irene
Mariemma Bardi
Gianna
Bitter Rice — FAQs
▸Where can I watch Bitter Rice in United States?
Bitter Rice is streaming on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸Is Bitter Rice on Criterion Channel?
Yes — Bitter Rice is currently available on Criterion Channel in United States.
▸What language is Bitter Rice in?
Bitter Rice is originally in Italian. Subtitle and dub options vary by streaming service.
▸How long is Bitter Rice?
Bitter Rice runs 1 hours 49 minutes (109 minutes).
▸What is Bitter Rice rated?
It holds a 7.5/10 audience score from 228 ratings.
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