Guardie E Ladri (1951) -

The movie contrasts the two families—the cop's modest but stable home versus the thief's overcrowded, impoverished flat.

It features cinematography by Mario Bava , who would later become a legend in horror and suspense. Where to Learn More or Buy Cops and Robbers (1951) - IMDb Guardie e ladri (1951)

(the "thief" Ferdinando) delivers a career-defining performance, moving away from his usual surreal slapstick to a nuanced, tragicomic portrayal of a man driven to petty crime by poverty. The movie contrasts the two families—the cop's modest

While it starts as a hilarious cat-and-mouse chase through the streets of Rome, the film quickly reveals a "tragical side". Guardie e ladri (1951)

It won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1952.