Edward Dmytryk and Duilio Coletti co-directed Anzio (aka The Battle for Anzio), a Technicolor WWII film about Operation Shingle, the 1944 Allied seaborne assault on the Italian port of Anzio.
| Anzio | |
|---|---|
US poster by Frank McCarthy
|
|
It was adapted from the book Anzio by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas, who had been the BBC war correspondent at the battle.
The film stars Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, and international film stars, who portray fictitious characters based on actual participants.
Wolfgang Preiss and Tonio Selwart played Field Marshal Albert Kesselring and General Eberhard von Mackensen.
Made in Italy with Italian crew, it was produced by Dino De Laurentiis; however, none of the main cast were Italian.
In the English-language version, Italians speak their native language, but German military commanders speak English.
War correspondent Dick Ennis is assigned to accompany US Army Rangers for the upcoming attempt to outflank the tough enemy defenses. The amphibious landing is unopposed, but the bumbling American general, Jack Lesley, is too cautious, preferring to fortify his beachhead before advancing inland. Ennis and a Ranger drive in a jeep through the countryside, discovering there are few Germans between the beachhead and Rome, but his information is ignored.
German commander Kesselring gathers his forces and launch an effective counterattack, and the Rangers are ambushed at the Battle of Cisterna.
The film’s second part centers on the story of a handful of survivors making their way back through enemy lines. The men take shelter in a house occupied by Italian women. A German patrol is slaughtered by the Americans. When Ennis asks what makes one man willingly kill another, Corporal Rabinoff replies that he loves it.
Having reached friendly lines, most of the men, including Rabinoff, are killed in a shootout with German snipers. Ennis is finally forced to kill one German with Rabinoff’s gun.
Only Ennis, Technical Sergeant Stimmler and Private Movie make it back, delivering intelligence about the Germans’ defense line.
The film ends with Ennis questioning the competence of the Allied commanders and man’s willingness to kill each other.
The film opened to mixed reviews, with critics comparing it to Dmytryk’s earlier (and better) films.
Riz Ortolani scored the film with a ballad called The World is Yours with lyrics by Doc Pomus, sung by Jack Jones.
Dino De Laurentiis put Peter Falk’s name above the title billing and gave him his choice of writer for his character’s dialogue. Falk stayed and wrote his lines himself. De Laurentiis brought the then new actor, Giancarlo Giannini, who would later do international films and work with director Lina Wertmüller (Seven Beauties).
Rabinoff is based on real 1st Special Service Force soldier, Sgt John L. “Jake” Walkmeister, who ran illegal brothel of Italian prostitutes in stolen ambulance. Walkmeister was killed by shrapnel at Port Cros during Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France.
Cast
Robert Mitchum as Dick Ennis, war correspondent
Peter Falk as Corporal Jack Rabinoff
Robert Ryan as Lieutenant General Carson
Earl Holliman as Technical Sergeant Abe Stimmler
Mark Damon as Private Wally Richardson
Arthur Kennedy as Major General Jack Lesley
Wolfgang Preiss as Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring
Reni Santoni as Private Movie
Joseph Walsh as Private Doyle
Thomas Hunter as Private Andy
Giancarlo Giannini as Private Cellini
Wayde Preston as Colonel Hendricks
Arthur Franz as Major General Luke Howard
Anthony Steel as Major-General Marsh
Patrick Magee as Major-General Starkey
Venantino Venantini as Captain Burns
Directed by Edward Dmytryk, Duilio Coletti
Adaptation: Frank De Felitta, Duilio Coletti, Giuseppe Mangione
Screenplay by HAL Craig, based on Anzio 1961 novel by Wynford Vaughan-Thomas
Produced by Dino De Laurentiis
Cinematography Giuseppe Rotunno
Edited by Peter Taylor
Music by Riz Ortolani
Production: Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica
Distributed by Columbia Pictures
Release date: July 24, 1968 (US)
Running time: 118 minutes
Box office: $1,400,000
