The Battle of Algiers (1966) La battaglia di Algeri (original title)

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Gillo Pontecorvo
Franco Solinas

Release Date:

20 September 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History | War

Tagline:

The French Colonel...who was forced even to torture! One of the many women...who stopped at nothing to win! The Algerian Street Boy...who became a rebel hero!

Plot:

An account of the bloodiest revolution in modern history.

Plot Keywords:

Algerian | French | Bomb | Independence | Torture

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 8 wins

Cast

Brahim Hadjadj	...	Ali La Pointe (as Brahim Haggiag)
Jean Martin	...	Col. Mathieu
Yacef Saadi	...	Djafar (as Saadi Yacef)
Samia Kerbash	...	One of the girls
Ugo Paletti	...	Captain
Fusia El Kader	...	Halima
Omar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mohamed Ben Kassen	...	Petit Omar
Michele Kerbash	...	Fathia (uncredited)
Franco Morici	...	(uncredited)
Tommaso Neri	...	Captain (uncredited)
Gene Wesson	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Gillo Pontecorvo

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gillo Pontecorvo
Franco Solinas

Produced by
Antonio Musu	....	producer
Yacef Saadi	....	producer
Fred Baker	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Ennio Morricone
Gillo Pontecorvo

Cinematography by
Marcello Gatti

Film Editing by
Mario Morra
Mario Serandrei

Production Design by
Sergio Canevari

Set Decoration by
Sergio Canevari

Costume Design by
Giovanni Axerio		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Maurizio Giustini	....	key makeup artist
Hamdi Mohamed	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Nour Eddine Brahimi	....	production manager
Lakhdar-Toumi Edine	....	production supervisor
Abdenour Essed	....	production supervisor
Sergio Merolle	....	production manager
Rolando Pieri	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Moussa Haddad	....	second assistant director
Giuliano Montaldo	....	second unit director
Fernando Morandi	....	assistant director

Art Department
Tarcisio Diamanti	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Alberto Bartolomei	....	sound synchronisation
Omar Bouksani	....	sound technician

Special Effects by
Aldo Gasparri	....	special effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Belkacem Bazi	....	assistant camera
Nazzareno Belardinelli	....	gaffer
Silvano Mancini	....	camera operator
Alfredo Marchetti	....	key grip
Ali Maroc	....	assistant camera
Claudio Racca	....	camera operator: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Giovanni Axerio	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Lina Caterini	....	second assistant editor
Anna Maria Montanari	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Bruno Nicolai	....	conductor

Other crew
Margherita Autuori	....	unit publicist (as Rossetti)
Alfredo Di Santo	....	production secretary
Alfredo Di Santo	....	script supervisor
Enrico Lucherini	....	unit publicist (as Lucherini)
Mario Maestrelli	....	administrator
Matteo Spinola	....	unit publicist (as Spinola)

Production Companies

• Igor Film
• Casbah Film (co-production)

Distributors

• Argent Films (2003) (UK) (all media)
• Maiden Voyage Pictures (2007) (UK) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rialto Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Rizzoli (1967) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Al!ve AG (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Encore Entertainment (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Globo Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• New Star (2009) (Greece) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Warmflash Productions Ltd.  trailer

Also Known As:

"La battaglia di Algeri" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

Italy | Algeria

Language:

French | Italian | English | Arabic

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Norway:16 | USA:Not Rated | South Korea:15 | Italy:VM18 | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | France:(Banned) (1965-1971) | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1993) | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Algeria

Company:

Igor Film

Trivia:

The only film in Oscar history to be a nominee in two separate non-consecutive years. It was a foreign film nominee for 1966, and then a nominee for screenplay and direction for 1968.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ali's first assignment is to assault a police officer. During this, the cop's hat falls to the ground, and the position of the hat changes between cuts.

Quotes:

Col. Mathieu:Interrogation becomes a method when conducted in a manner so as always to obtain a result, or rather an answer. In practice, demonstrating a false humanitarianism only leads to ridiculousness and impotence. I'm certain that all units will understand and react accordingly.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in CCCV (Cineclube Carlos Varela) (2005)

Masterpiece with Historical Accuracy

Capturing a historic incident/moment with extraordinary accuracy makes a film truly beautiful, painful, and masterful. With the tradition of Italian Neo Realism and French New Wave - i.e. shooting in location and casting nonprofessional actors, The Battle of Algiers harshly seals the ugly realities of both French Legion and Algerian Guerillas - i.e. indiscriminate bombs, tortures, and scapegoats. Ennio Morricone composed one of his early successful scores.