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:

year 1944 | world war two in italy | military operation | 1940s | behind enemy lines | 

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Taglines:

Is this the film where a dog rescues a soldier from a barbed wire mesh?

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for war violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Peter Falk in his 2006 auto-biography 'Just One Thing: Stories of My Life' states that he didn't like the script for this movie which he thought was hackneyed and full of cliché. Falk wanted to leave the film for these reasons. However, producer Dino De Laurentiis encouraged Falk to stay by giving him film poster name-above-the-title credit as well as choice of writer for his dialogue. Falk stayed on the picture and apparently actually wrote his own dialogue.

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Goofs

When they first drive into Rome in the Jeep, they pass some roller doors or sheet doors. This type of door was not patented until 1947.

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Quotes

Pvt. Movie: An ad, and ad. I'll take out an ad that describes her. Really describes her.
[cups both hands in front of his chest]
Dick Ennis: It'll never work Movie.
Pvt. Movie: Why?
Dick Ennis: [simulates Movie's gesture] Must be a thousand girls in Rome with hands like that.

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Connections

Referenced in The Carol Burnett Show: Episode #4.3 (1970)

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Soundtracks

This World Is Yours
Sung by Jack Jones
Lyrics by Doc Pomus
Edizioni Musicali "Dino"

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.

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, Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1