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.

Directed by: Augusto Genina
Written by: Fausto Tozzi & Suso Cecchi d'Amico
Runtime: 111 minutes
Cast:
Inés Orsini InĂ©s Orsini
Maria Goretti 
Giovanni Martella Giovanni Martella
Luigi Goretti - il padre di Maria 
Mauro Matteucci Mauro Matteucci
Alessandro Serenelli 
Rubi D'Alma Rubi D'Alma
La contessa Teneroni 
Michele Malaspina Michele Malaspina
Il conte 
Domenico Viglione Borghese Domenico Viglione Borghese
Il dottore (as D. Viglione Borghese) 
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Also known as:
  • Heaven Over the Marshes