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 Prisoner: Cell Block H: Episode #1.4 (1979)

User Reviews

Martin Ritt's 5 Branded Women is a fine study of what certain kinds of ladies suffered during wartime

Just watched this World War II drama directed by Martin Ritt on Netflix streaming. The title characters are played by Silvana Mangano, Jeanne Moreau, Carla Gravina, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Vera Miles. They've all been involved with the Nazi soldier played by Steve Forrest though one of them had only kissed him. As a result, they all got their hair shorn by the men who think they're the lowest of the low for sleeping with the enemy. But they start redeeming themselves when they shoot many Nazi soldiers in an attempted raid of a sheep ranch. I'll stop there and just say this was quite a compelling movie that addressed the complexities of the way men and women acted during wartime that got them certain punishments they wouldn't have otherwise during a time of peace. And the performances of the above are all greatly done especially that of Ms. Mangano as well as that of Van Heflin who plays the reluctant commanding officer who accepts these women into his unit. Among the other male supporting cast, Harry Guardino and Richard Basehart also deserve kudos for their performances. Really, all I'll say now is I highly recommend 5 Branded Women.