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So-so 1968 war film, starring Robert Mitchum & Peter Falk, tells the story of the WWII Anzio landings on the Rome coast. Most of the budget is spent early in scenes of Naples and the amphibious landing itself. Thereafter, we follow journalist Mitchum and gung-ho pioneer Falk, as they lead a cut-off patrol behind enemy lines without a radio, which gradually dwindles in size, as they are picked off by small parties of Germans. On their travels, they gather critical intelligence about the German defences in front of Rome. Ostensibly, their aim is then to return to the beachhead to deliver the news, and to seek relative safety with the main Allied force. However, Mitchum & Falk both love war for its own sake. Thus far, this follows a similar plot to Milestone's classic, The Halls of Montezuma (1951). Here, however, Dmytryk fails to build similar tension and plot interest, or to create as many involving characters. Thus, the middle of the film seems drawn out and slow moving, despite good performances from the two leads. The Italian campaign is also covered in the Audie Murphy story, To Hell & Back (1955), and the larger budget, Patton (1970). The latter film also gives some background to the tension between the different Allied camps in the Italian campaign, which helps to explain by British writers, such as Alan Whicker and Wynford Vaughn-Thomas, were so willing to criticise the US high command for this inevitably cumbersome operation. This film is based on Vaughn-Thomas's book.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great cast of actors playing in an entertaining storyline. Ok for a rainy Sunday afternoon!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is a great movie shows the true grit of the men who had to fight to survive and push the enemy back
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
The film was fantastic I really liked it
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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