Director: Federico Fellini
Screenplay: Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli
Photography: Otello Martelli
Music: Nino Rota 
Cast: Broderick Crawford, Richard Basehart, Franco Fabrizi, Giulietta Masina, Giacomo Gabrielli, Alberto De Amicis, Sue Ellen Blake, Lorella De Luca, Mara Werlen, Xenia Walderi, Mario Passante, Irene Cefaro
Editing: Mario Senandrei, Giuseppe Vari
Produced by: Titanus (Roma), SGC (Paris)
Distribution: Titanus
Year: 1955. Running Time: 104’
Restored copy by Fondazione Federico Fellini

Roberto, Augusto and Picasso are friends and specialists of the “swindle”. Disguised as priests, they cheat credulous countrymen, extort money from people living in temporary shelters with the promise of a house, and sell old overcoats as new to inexperienced gas station attendants. At a NewYears Eve party, Picasso’s wife discovers the truth about her husband’s activity. Augusto’s daughter, however, knows nothing of her father’s shady dealings and is at the cinema with him when one of Augusto’s “victims” recognizes and attacks him. Arrested, Augusto ends up in jail. But as soon as he is free, he reunites the band again and repeats the swindle disguised as a priest. At the sight of a handicapped girl of the same age of his own daughter, he suddenly becomes conscience-stricken. Nevertheless he doesn’t give back the stolen things. On the contrary he tries to take advantage of the situation and keep all the loot for himself. A fight breaks out with the other partners, and Augusto, in an attempt to escape, falls into a ravine and breaks his back. His companions do not help him but grab the money and get away. Augusto dies in a terrible and slow agony.