The 1955 film "The Rose Tattoo" is about some Italian-Americans living in a town on the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans. Serafina Delle Rose (Anna Magnani) lives with her husband Rosario and their teenage daughter Rosa Delle Rose (Marisa Pavan). Rosario is a truck driver and he is killed in an accident. Serafina becomes a recluse but after three years decides to reenter society. She meets Alvaro Mangiacavallo (Burt Lancaster), a truck driver who reminds her of her husband.

Rosario has a tattoo of a rose on his chest. Serafina likes to brag to the other women in town that Rosario is a great lover. Various women sometimes tell Serafina about Rosario's affairs with other women. Serafina runs a sewing and clothes making business out of her house and a wealthy woman, Estelle Hohengarten (Virginia Grey) calls on her.

Estelle asks Serafina to make a silk shirt for her lover, but does not tell Serafina that her lover is Rosario. Rosario drives a truck which usually carries bananas. One time he is also carrying something illegal. The police are waiting and the truck has an accident which kills Rosario. Serafina becomes a disheveled recluse but after a few years decides to reenter society when her daughter Rosa is about to graduate from high school. Rosa has met a US Navy sailor, Jack Hunter (Ben Cooper), and they have fallen in love.

Rosa takes Jack to meet her mother who is worried about the reputation of sailors. Serafina takes Jack to a statue of the Virgin Mary and orders him to kneel.

The oath is that he will not "dishonor" Rosa. Some women make remarks to Serafina about her husband's affairs and she becomes upset. Serafina visits a local church festival and asks the priest if her husband ever confessed to having affairs but the priest refuses to tell her. She then creates a scene and Alvaro Mangiacavallo (Burt Lancaster), another truck driver, calms her down.

Alvaro takes Serafina to her house and she invites him in.

The two become friends and start seeing each other. Alvaro learns about the husband's tattoo and gets one himself.

He gets a rose tattoo, of course. He then visits Serafina with a box of candy.

Alvaro is dressed up and wears a necktie with images of coins on it. Things are going fine until Alvaro takes off his shirt.

Serafina is upset at Alvaro's tattoo and sends him away. She starts thinking about her husband's affairs and orders Alvaro to take her to the "Mardi Gras", a local nightclub and gambling house.

They walk by the dancers and into the card room where Estelle is a "Black Jack" dealer.

Estelle's card table shows some coins on it which are probably half dollars. There is also a dealer's tray with stacks of coins. Estelle brags to Serafina that Rosario was her lover and the two women get into a fight.

The men pull the women apart and Estelle unbuttons her blouse.

Serafina is shocked at seeing another rose tattoo. At home daughter Rosa and Jack leave to get married and Alvaro and Serafina get back together.

Anna Magnani as Serafina Delle Rose
Marisa Pavan as Rosa Delle Rose
Burt Lancaster as Alvaro Mangiacavallo
Virginia Grey as Estelle Hohengarten
Ben Cooper as Jack Hunter
Director: Daniel Mann
Writers: Tennessee Williams, Hal Kanter
Based on the 1951 play "The Rose Tattoo" by Tennessee Williams