The Battle of Algiers (1966)

In the 1950s, fear and violence escalate as the people of Algiers fight for independence from the French government.

Director:

Gillo Pontecorvo

Writers:

Franco Solinas, Franco Solinas (story) (as F. Solinas)

Stars:

Brahim Hadjadj, Jean Martin, Yacef Saadi

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Jean Martin	...	Col. Mathieu
Yacef Saadi	...	Djafar (as Saadi Yacef)
Brahim Hadjadj	...	Ali La Pointe (as Brahim Haggiag)
Tommaso Neri	...	Captain
Samia Kerbash	...	Fathia
Ugo Paletti	...	Captain
Fusia El Kader	...	Halima
Franco Moruzzi	...	(as Franco Morici)
Mohamed Ben Kassen	...	Petit Omar

Storyline

A film commissioned by the Algerian government that shows the Algerian revolution from both sides. The French foreign legion has left Vietnam in defeat and has something to prove. The Algerians are seeking independence. The two clash. The torture used by the French is contrasted with the Algerian's use of bombs in soda shops. A look at war as a nasty thing that harms and sullies everyone who participates in it.

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Plot Keywords:

battle of algiers | algeria | resistance | struggle for independence | street fighter | 

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Taglines:

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!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy Algeria

Language:

French Arabic English

Release Date:

20 September 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Battle of Algiers

Filming Locations:

Algeria

Box Office

Budget:

$800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$64,870, 11 January 2004, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$55,908, 6 January 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Casbah Film, Igor Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When houses needed to be blown up, full-size buildings were erected in the narrow streets, largely from expanded polystyrene.

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Goofs

In one scene, the rebels plant bombs in three locations in 1956. At one of the locations, the song "Rebecca" by Los Chakachas is playing on the jukebox. The song wasn't released until 1959.

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Quotes

[first lines]
French Interrogator: Couldn't you have talked sooner? It would've gone easier for you.

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Connections

Spoofed in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015)

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Soundtracks

St. Matthew Passion BWV 244, 1st movement
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

User Reviews

A Brilliant War Film...

Just when I thought I was starting to hate every movie in sight, I had the amazing priveledge to watch "the Battle Of Algiers" which is this amazing account of the oppression of the Algierian people by the French in the 1950's.

When the movie starts, we see 4 people hiding from the French Army. Then all of a sudden, this amazingly haunting music starts, and we're told the story in flashback of how the Algierian people tried to revolt against the French Soldiers.

From what I understand, the movie uses no documentary footage, which is amazing as some of the scenes in the movie must have taken a great deal of effort to produce., There are some pretty amazing crowd scenes and the explosion scenes are just breathtaking.

Also, I guess some of the actual revolutionaries are in the film as well. They are pretty hard to point out as all of the acting here is amazing, very realistic.

So, looking for a war movie? Dammit, don't go for Private Ryan, go to Algiers.