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.
| Directing | Mario Soldati | Director |
| Writing | Antonio Altoviti | Screenplay |
| Writing | Giorgio Bassani | Screenplay |
| Writing | Basilio Franchina | Screenplay |
| Writing | Pier Paolo Pasolini | Screenplay |
| Writing | Mario Soldati | Screenplay |
| Writing | Florestano Vancini | Screenplay |
| Writing | Ennio Flaiano | Story |
| Writing | Alberto Moravia | Story |
| Camera | Otello Martelli | Director of Photography |
| Sound | Angelo Francesco Lavagnino | Original Music Composer |
| Sound | Armando Trovajoli | Original Music Composer |
| Camera | Roberto Gerardi | Camera Operator |
| Camera | Arturo Zavattini | Assistant Camera |
| Sound | Paolo Uccello | Sound |
| Sound | Bruno Moreal | Sound |
| Sound | Aldo Calpini | Sound |
| Production | Claudio Agostinelli | Production Secretary |
| Production | Spartaco Conversi | Production Secretary |
| Production | Giuseppe Di Biase | Production Secretary |
| Editing | Leo Catozzo | Editor |
| Editing | Tatiana Casini Morigi | Assistant Editor |
| Directing | Cesare Olivieri | First Assistant Director |
| Directing | Florestano Vancini | Second Assistant Director |
| Directing | Anna Gruber | Script Supervisor |
| Art | Flavio Mogherini | Production Design |
| Art | Arrigo Breschi | Set Decoration |
| Costume & Make-Up | Anna Gobbi | Costume Design |
| Costume & Make-Up | Goffredo Rocchetti | Makeup Artist |
| Production | Dino De Laurentiis | Producer |
| Production | Carlo Ponti | Producer |
| Production | Giorgio Adriani | Production Manager |
| Production | Antonio Altoviti | Line Producer |
| Crew | Leo Coleman | Choreographer |
| Production | Basilio Franchina | Executive Producer |
