Anzio (1968)

One of WWII's 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.

Directors:

Edward Dmytryk, Duilio Coletti

Writers:

H.A.L. Craig (screenplay) (as Harry Craig), Wynford Vaughan-Thomas (book)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, Robert Ryan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Mitchum	...	Dick Ennis (war correspondent, International Press)
Peter Falk	...	Cpl. Jack Rabinoff
Robert Ryan	...	General 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

Storyline

Allied forces land at Anzio unopposed but instead of moving inland and north to Rome their commanding officer decides to dig in. A battle-hardened war correspondent borrows a jeep and driver and drives to Rome and back encountering no significant German forces. The report on the absence of the enemy is discounted as the general is concerned about having the strength to hold Anzio and support the offensive. By the time it is finally decided to make a move the Germans have arrived in strength. A US Ranger assault on Cisterna is ambushed with most of the forces killed or captured. A small group of survivors, including the war correspondent, struggle to make their way back to Anzio and report on the German defenses.

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Plot Keywords:

world war two in italy | italy | year 1944 | behind enemy lines | nazi occupied italy | 

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Taglines:

Where the end of World War II began.

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

English Italian German

Release Date:

24 July 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anzio

Filming Locations:

Royal Palace, Caserta, Campania, Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Post war, General Lucas, who commanded American forces as Anzio visited war hero Audie Murphy on a movie set. Murphy, who had served at Anzio returned his salute, but refused to shake his hand as he held him responsible for the deaths of many men during the battle.

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Goofs

A shortage of German machine guns must have blighted filming as clearly seen in the ambush scene with the German troops in hollow haystacks - rather than using MG 34 or MG 42 machine guns, they use British Army Mk1 Bren Guns & American M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (although it could be very loosely argued the Bren guns were captured British munitions from earlier in the war, however there would be ammunition compatibility problems as German 7.92x57 ammunition won't work in .303 weapons).

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Quotes

Dick Ennis: [attending to Rabinoff who went into sudden convulsions] Look, fellows, I think he can use the air more then the company, okay? Anything anybody can do?
Cpl. Jack Rabinoff: No, unless you have a band-aid.
Dick Ennis: Very funny.
Cpl. Jack Rabinoff: Oh, it's murder. The stomach, you see? A Japanese grenade ripped my insides. Got medal in there. Under tension it contracts and all hell breaks loose. I must have been tense.
Dick Ennis: Good thinking. You belong in a hospital, not in a war.
Cpl. Jack Rabinoff: Yeah, that's what they said when they sent me home.
Dick Ennis: You mean you got out,...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Robert Mitchum: The Reluctant Star (1991)

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Soundtracks

Bye Bye Blackbird
(uncredited)
Music by Ray Henderson
Lyrics by Mort Dixon
Sung by Rabinoff with the prostitutes in the ambulance and with the girl in the house

User Reviews

Anti-war drama comes off as hollow

American director Edward Dmytryk headed to Italy to shoot "Anzio", one the most lopsided World War II epics to come out of the 1960s. Despite some good intentions, this film fails as both an anti-war drama and an action piece.

The film stars Robert Mitchum ("The Enemy Below") as Dick Ennis, a cold and cynical war correspondent that does his work on the front lines with the infantrymen. When the squad he is accompanying gets cut off behind the German lines due to an ambush, he must pick up a gun and help them fight their way back to Allied lines.

The movie has a lot going for it, right from the start. Every actor looks comfortable, especially Mitchum. Robert Mitchum has never been one of my favorite American actors, simply because he always seems to be acting – despite the dimensionality of the part, Mitchum can never seem to break out of a box. Here, he looks to be having plenty of fun and seems quite natural in the role. Mark Damon ("Between Heaven and Hell") provides the necessary dramatic opposite as an infantryman who can't seem to agree with Ennis on his policies. Arthur Kennedy ("Attack and Retreat") is the exact opposite of Ennis' character as the incompetent General Lesley, who takes too much time establishing a solid beachhead and allows the Germans to launch an offensive, pinning his men down on the beach. Peter Falk ("Situation Normal, All Fouled Up"), on the other hand, is totally wasted as Corporal Rabinoff, a soldier who has become addicted to combat. Earl Holliman ("Armored Command") is the Sergeant in command of the squad, and he makes the most out of a clichéd-role by giving his character personality. Be sure to watch for Robert Ryan, Anthony Steel, Arthur Franz and Patrick Magee as Allied Generals.

There is only one big battle sequence, which expertly staged and filled with tanks, extras and big explosions. However, its effectiveness is limited because of two key flaws. Primarily, American soldiers are seen to stand up in the open and rush German machine-gun nests, only to be mowed down by overwhelming enemy fire. Secondly, there's a ridiculous scene in which Ennis and a soldier engage in a discussion about the war right in the middle of a fight, despite the fact that bullets and artillery shells are landing all around them! The final, small-scale, climactic showdown with German snipers was much more suspenseful, due to some excellent editing and great music score.

One major flaw in the film is, unfortunately, the script. It's as if "Anzio" can't decide if it wants to be a gung-ho flag-waver, or a downbeat, anti-war story. The first half the film is filled with humorous, almost slapstick scenes, although some of Mitchum's dialog hints that this is going to change … and it does, in fact the focus turns around 180 degrees. Throughout the second half of the film, the action stops dead in its tracks so that the characters discuss issues of personal sacrifice, what constitutes above and beyond the call of duty, etc… until it's been repeated so much that you can't stand to hear anymore. For all of this discussion, the conclusion is pretty forced. Mitchum says something along the lines of, "Men kill each other because they like to. Maybe if we all sit back and realize it, we could stop the killing and get along." That statement defines over-emphasis. Instead of being a history lesson about the real Anzio campaign, the film turns into a social commentary on Vietnam.

The on-location shooting served the proceedings well, as the film looks like sunny Italy in every frame. The scene in the Italian house looked excellent, and Dmytryk uses wide angles throughout to show off the scope of the Italian locales. The score ranges from victorious and rousing to mournful and depressing, which contributes a great deal to the mood of some important scenes – such as the entry into liberated Rome and the significance of one character's death in the sniper sequence.

"Anzio" is a mixed bag, but despite a lack of focus on one theme, it manages to be entertaining and satisfying as a drama, with enough well-staged action scenes to hold it together and help obscure the muddled anti-war sentiments.