(the "guard" Sergeant Bottoni) is equally brilliant as a policeman who is just as "stuck" in the system as the man he is chasing. Their chemistry turns a simple chase into a deeply human story. 2. Social Commentary with a Heart

The film is historic for bringing together two of Italy’s greatest acting giants: and Aldo Fabrizi .

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

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

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

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