5 Branded Women (1960)

Yugoslav partisans grimly crop the hair of a village quintet of women believed to have consorted with the occupational Nazis. Four, for various reasons, have indeed - and their seducer is a... See full summary »

Director:

Martin Ritt

Writers:

Ugo Pirro (novel), Ivo Perilli (screenplay),

Stars:

Silvana Mangano, Jeanne Moreau, Vera Miles

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Silvana Mangano	...	Jovanka
Jeanne Moreau	...	Ljuba
Vera Miles	...	Daniza
Barbara Bel Geddes	...	Marja
Carla Gravina	...	Mira
Van Heflin	...	Velko
Richard Basehart	...	Captain Eric Reinhardt
Harry Guardino	...	Branco
Alex Nicol	...	Svenko
Steve Forrest	...	Sargeant Paul Keller
Gérard Herter	...	Col. von Elm
Romolo Valli	...	Mirko
Sidney Clute	...	Milan
Teresa Pellati	...	Boja
Pietro Germi	...	Partisan commander

Storyline

Yugoslav partisans grimly crop the hair of a village quintet of women believed to have consorted with the occupational Nazis. Four, for various reasons, have indeed - and their seducer is a lone, swaggering sergeant whom the partisans briskly emasculate. Escorted out of town by the sheepish Nazis, the forlorn ladies link up, patriotically and romantically, with a band of tough mountain guerrillas.

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Plot Keywords:

guerrilla | world war two | distrust | shaved head | woman in danger | 

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Taglines:

All The Savage Ravishing Passions of War!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

Five Branded Women

Filming Locations:

Klagenfurt, Carinthia, Austria

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship certificate register # 54911 delivered on 1-9-1960.

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Connections

Referenced in Delighting in Contrasts (2005)

User Reviews

review of 5 Branded Women

This film is one of the least known gems to come from producer Dino de Laurentiis. Five women in war-torn Yugoslavia have their heads shaved for having intimate relations with a German soldier. The five bond and eventually join the partisan group who punished them back in their village. The film documents their fight against the enemy of their homeland, and their internal feelings of remorse, love, and hate. The women all give stellar performances--Silvana Mangano, Barbara Bel Geddes, Vera Miles, Jeanne Moreau, and young Carla Gravina. Van Heflin and Harry Guardino also deliver fine performances, as the leader of the Yugoslav partisan group and the troublemaker of the partisans, respectively. But perhaps the most touching performance comes from Richard Basehart as the German Captain Erich Reinhardt. In the little screen time he has, Mr. Basehart delivers a gem, bringing poignantly to life a gentle widower, plucked from his comfortable life as a university professor to fight in the war. He is captured by the partisans, and bonds with the 5 Branded Women who have been accepted into their group. He had shown sympathy for the women in the beginning of the film after their disgrace was made public, and in captivity, he bonds with them, particularly Mira (Carla Gravina),(whose baby he delivers) and Ljuba (Jeanne Moreau),(who finds herself in danger of falling for him). It takes a special talent to make you care for a character who is supposed to be a "bad guy", and to do it in less than ten minutes of total screen time is an art form. Mr. Basehart was indeed an artist. This is just one touching instance of the emotional exploration of the characters in this movie. Each character comes to life. A very little known film, but a must see. The action and emotion is raw and realistic throughout.