Anzio (1968) Lo sbarco di Anzio (original title)

Directors:

Edward Dmytryk
Duilio Coletti

Writers:

H.A.L. Craig (screenplay)
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas (book)
(more)

Release Date:

24 July 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Tagline:

Where the end of World War II began.

Plot:

One of WWIIs bloodiest battles as the Allies smash through the German lines which have enclosed the Anzio beachhead. Four months and 30,000 casualties before the Allies finally march to Rome.

Plot Keywords:

German Soldier | Hotel | U.S. Marine Corps | Smoke | Gunfire

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Dick Ennis (war correspondent, International Press)
Peter Falk	...	Cpl. Jack Rabinoff
Robert Ryan	...	Gen. Carson
Earl Holliman	...	Platoon Sgt. Abe Stimmler
Mark Damon	...	Wally Richardson
Arthur Kennedy	...	Maj. Gen. Jack Lesley
Reni Santoni	...	Pvt. Movie
Joseph Walsh	...	Doyle
Thomas Hunter	...	Pvt. Andy
Giancarlo Giannini	...	Pvt. Cellini
Anthony Steel	...	Gen. Marsh
Patrick Magee	...	Gen. Starkey
Arthur Franz	...	Maj. Gen. Luke Howard
Tonio Selwart	...	Gen. Van MacKensen
Elsa Albani	...	Emilia
Wayde Preston	...	Col. Hendricks
Venantino Venantini	...	Capt. Burns
Annabella Andreoli	...	Anna
Wolfgang Preiss	...	Field Marshal Albert Kesselring
Marcella Valeri	...	Assunta
Enzo Turco	...	Pepe
Wolfgang Hillinger	...	Hans (the sniper)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jed Curtis	...	Col. Stelzer
Vittoria Dal Verme	...	Neapolitan girl
Giorgia Della Giusta	...	Neapolitan girl
Gene Evans	...	Jess Cooney
Stefanella Giovannini
Dante Maggio	...	Neapolitan street hawker
Tiberio Mitri	...	MP
Carmen Scarpitta	...	Neapolitan girl
Elisabeth Tompson	...	Raffaella
Richard Arlen	...	Capt. Gannon (uncredited)
William Conroy	...	German Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Dmytryk
Duilio Coletti		(Italian version)

Writing credits
H.A.L. Craig		(screenplay) (as Harry Craig)
Wynford Vaughan-Thomas		(book "Anzio")
Frank De Felitta		(adaptation) and
Duilio Coletti		(adaptation) &
Giuseppe Mangione		(adaptation)

Produced by
Dino De Laurentiis	....	producer

Original Music by
Riz Ortolani

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Rotunno		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alberto Gallitti		(Italian copy only)
Peter Taylor

Casting by
Guidarino Guidi

Art Direction by
Luigi Scaccianoce

Makeup Department
Gabriella Borzelli	....	hairdresser
Amato Garbini	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Mario Del Papa	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gianni Cozzo	....	assistant director
Giorgio Gentili	....	assistant director
Fabio Piccioni	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Francesco Bronzi	....	set dressing
Emilio D'Andria	....	set dressing
Dante Ferretti	....	assistant art director
Aldo Puccini	....	set construction

Sound Department
Aldo De Martino	....	sound recorded by (as Aldo De Martini)
Norman B. Schwartz	....	sound editor (as Norman Schwartz)

Special Effects by
Walfrido Traversari	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Giuseppe Maccari	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Piero Servo	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ugo Pericoli	....	costumes

Music Department
Riz Ortolani	....	conductor

Other crew
Elvira D'Amico	....	continuity
Dino De Laurentiis	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1968) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1971) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia Films (1968) (France) (theatrical) (as Columbia Films S.A.)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Dino Edizioni Musicali  music published by (as Edizioni Musicali "Dino")

Also Known As:

"Lo sbarco di Anzio" - Italy (original title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for war violence

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English | Italian | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating) (1985) (1992) (2004) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | UK:A (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:M (original rating) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Ariccia, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The meaning and relevance of this movie's title "Anzio" refers to the Battle of Anzio on 22 January 22 1944 during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War. The Battle of Anzio was an amphibious assault against the Axis allies of Germany and Italy in the Italian regions of Nettuno and Anzio. The name of the World War II military mission that resulted in this combat was Operation Shingle. This operation was aimed at outflanking the German army on the Winter Line and as such allow for an assault on the capital city of Rome, Italy. Operation Shingle was lead by Major General John P. Lucas

Goofs:

Continuity: When Stimmler and Ennis discuss the night reconnaissance of the German works, a man appears behind Sgt Stimmler's shoulder in close shot where no-one was standing in long shot.

Soundtrack:

This World Is Yours

Mixed Messages

Anzio is a weird film. Made at the height of the Viet-Nam War, it's clear this Italian film is trying to be anti-war. Robert Mitchuim, who looks like he hadn't slept for a month, and was on a week-long drinking binge, rambles on about the waste of war. He sounds like a drunk at a upscale cocktail party. Yet, the movie also uses the basic Hollywood heroics to attract the viewing public. The sniper shoot-out is done realistically and is somewhat exciting. Aside from that, the film is way to talkative, way too long, and the action in general is dull.

The best thing about this movie are the performances of Mark Damon and Reni Santoni as two U.S. Army Rangers. Peter Falk was stereotyped with this type of anti-establishment role in the late 1960s and played the exact same role in Castle Keep. Falk also looks beat, drunk, and bored. Arthur Kennedy and Robert Ryan are totally wasted and it's clear they were hired for their names. Earl Holliman gives a modest performance.