Unlike most Italian films of the 1940s, Augusto Genina's Cielo Sulla Palude opened in Venice rather than Rome. The film's American title was Heaven Over the Marshes, and indeed most of the story is set in the disease-ridden Pontine Marshes on the outskirts of Rome. This was the home of Maria Goretti, a pious young girl who was murdered by her would-be seducer. For reasons elucidated in the course of the film, Maria's short time on earth made her worthy of Sainthood, which was actually bestowed upon her shortly after the release of this film. Maria Goretti is well-played by Ines Orsini. Cielo Sulla Palude served as the comeback feature for director Augusto Genina, whose previous pro-fascist films had caused him to be blacklisted after WW II.
Camera | G.R. Aldo | Director of Photography |
Writing | Suso Cecchi d'Amico | Screenplay |
Directing | Augusto Genina | Director |
Writing | Fausto Tozzi | Screenplay |
Sound | Antonio Veretti | Original Music Composer |
Production | Carlo José Bassoli | Producer |
Costume & Make-Up | Goffredo Rocchetti | Makeup Artist |
Production | Carlo José Bassoli | Unit Manager |
Sound | Ovidio Del Grande | Sound |
Production | Alfredo Veloccia | Production Supervisor |
Production | Renato Bassoli | Producer |
Art | Virgilio Marchi | Set Decoration |
Directing | Siro Marcellini | Assistant Director |
Production | Pietro Zlatarow | Production Manager |
Art | Virgilio Marchi | Production Design |
Directing | Fausto Tozzi | Assistant Director |
Editing | Edmondo Lozzi | Editor |
Directing | Primo Zeglio | Assistant Director |
Editing | Otello Colangeli | Editor |
Costume & Make-Up | Anna Maria Feo | Costume Design |
Costume & Make-Up | Adriano Cambellotti | Costume Design |