When Gelsomina, a naïve young woman, is purchased from her impoverished mother by brutish circus strongman Zampanò to be his wife and partner, she loyally endures her husband's coldness and abuse as they travel the Italian countryside performing together. Soon Zampanò must deal with his jealousy and conflicted feelings about Gelsomina when she finds a kindred spirit in Il Matto, the carefree circus fool, and contemplates leaving Zampanò.
Giulietta Masina
as Gelsomina
Anthony Quinn
as Zampanò
Richard Basehart
as Il 'Matto'
Aldo Silvani
as Il Signor Giraffa
Marcella Rovere
as La Vedova
Livia Venturini
as La Suorina
Pietro Ceccarelli
as Innkeeper (uncredited)
Giovanna Galli
as Prostitute at the Inn (uncredited)
Gustavo Giorgi
as (uncredited)
Yami Kamadeva
as Prostitute (uncredited)
Mario Passante
as Waiter (uncredited)
Anna Primula
as Gelsomina's Mother (uncredited)
