The Great War

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04/23/2018 A look at the Italian army in WWI. We follow Vittorio Gassman and Alberto Sordi from the point of being drafted onward to their actual experience of trench warfare and combat in the streets, small villages, farmhouses, and fields. As in most other war films, death is swift and omnipresent. Still, there is camaraderie among the troops and Gassman and Sordi are the chief slackers/jokers, always trying to stay out of harm's way. So, the tone is often light and even comic, which makes the moments of pathos that much more intense (and there are many, often at the end of a scene). War films seem to invite an episodic structure and that is also true here; our heroes encounter a variety of typical situations (on leave in a small village, sent to requisition supplies, volunteered for hazardous duty, trapped behind enemy lines, etc.). The sets and action are impressively naturalistic with solid direction by Mario Monicelli (who also did the excellent heist comedy, Big Deal on Madonna Street, 1958). Naturally, as the film closes, we are left to ponder "to what end?" Nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar. Worth a look. See more lanfranco c @Lanfrancobz 07/06/2012 The story of two soldiers so coward to become heroes. See more 01/26/2011 Yet another great film from Monicelli. See more 12/20/2010 Sabiendo que el director había fallecido hacía sólo un mes y lloviendo a mares como estaba el sábado,me propuse ver por primera vez esta que es ahora una joya de mi filmoteca.Actores en estado de gracia,como Vittorio Gassman,luchando sólo por escapar de ir a defender la patria..muy guapo además..un estafador Alberto Sordi con su gracia peculiar y una Silvana Mangano tan bella como fiera..de niña quería parecerme a ella y el mal genio no me falta,no..me ha impresionado gratamente el despliegue de extras y medios para retratar una guerra durísima en esas trincheras de espanto.Creo que es una de esas 100 peliculas que hay que ver antes de morir..yo con à (C)sta ya cumplí. See more 12/14/2009 Italians that never distinguished themselves in war, have made probably the best anti-war films. Much too down to earth and sophisticated to believe in war or take it seriously. The opposite can be seen in American WWII films See more 12/06/2009 Maybe th best neorealistic film about the Italian WWI... A tragic film driven by an ironic view See more Read all reviews

The Great War

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