The Great War (1959)
"La grande guerra" (original title)

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army. Giovanni bribes... See full summary »

Director:

Mario Monicelli

Writers:

Agenore Incrocci, Mario Monicelli,

Stars:

Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, Silvana Mangano

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alberto Sordi	...	Oreste Jacovacci
Vittorio Gassman	...	Giovanni Busacca
Silvana Mangano	...	Costantina
Folco Lulli	...	Bordin
Bernard Blier	...	Capitano Castelli
Romolo Valli	...	Tenente Gallina
Vittorio Sanipoli	...	Maggiore Venturi
Nicola Arigliano	...	Giardino
Geronimo Meynier	...	Il portaordini
Mario Valdemarin	...	Sottotenente Lorenzi
Elsa Vazzoler	...	Moglie di Boradin
Tiberio Murgia	...	Rosario Nicotra
Livio Lorenzon	...	Sergente Barriferri
Ferruccio Amendola	...	De Concini
Carlo D'Angelo	...	Capitano Ferri

Storyline

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army. Giovanni bribes Oreste, believing to his false pledges to make him avoiding the army. But the destiny make them meeting again on the train directed to the front. Nevertheless Oreste stolen money to Giovanni they become friends and in first times are allocated to a secondary and quite front (village of Tigliano). Here they spend some months in relative peace and Giovanni finds time to fall in love for prostitute Costantina. But war is getting everyday closer. During the most important battle among Italians and Austro-Hungarians, Giovanni and Oreste are in charge to deliver a vital message to the Italian headquarters. But, unfortunately, they fall in the hands of an Austrian officer that, under life menace, starts an interrogation to find out the Italian message. What they should try to do now?

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Plot Keywords:

front | austro hungarian | austrian | italy | prostitute | 

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Taglines:

The Great War is hell at its hottest...men at their mightiest...the screen at its greatest!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France

Language:

Italian German

Release Date:

28 October 1959 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Great War

Filming Locations:

Dobbiaco, Bolzano, Trentino - Alto Adige, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Gray-Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Referenced in Sodankylä ikuisesti: Elokuvan vuosisata (2010)

User Reviews

one of the best movies ever

Monicelli is another genius and poet of the Italian cinema. We can only bless him for the long list of masterpieces he created for all of us: I soliti ignoti, Guardie e ladri, L'armata Brancaleone and of course La Grande Guerra. Two cowards, one from Rome (Sordi) the other from Lombardy (Gassman) try to save their lives during one of the most tragic moments (for Italy) of the WWI (the defense on the river Piave). While in some parts the film is truly a blame against the horrors of war, in other parts is somehow patriotic. Even the tragic final changes the protagonists into heroes, but really a strange kind of heroes, very different from the American icon (muscles and bravery). In conclusion, you will find a lot of fun but also thoughtful moments. I beg everyone who read this message to see this movies, it's truly one of the best ever.