IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
During WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the GermansDuring WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the GermansDuring WWII in Italy, a wine-producing village hides a million bottles from the Germans
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3.7K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Crichton(novel)
- William Rose(screenplay)
- Ben Maddow(screenplay)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Crichton(novel)
- William Rose(screenplay)
- Ben Maddow(screenplay)
- Stars
- Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 1 win & 8 nominations total
Videos1
Hardy Krüger
- Captain Von Prumas Captain Von Prum
- (as Hardy Kruger)
- Director
- Writers
- Robert Crichton(novel)
- William Rose(screenplay)
- Ben Maddow(screenplay)
- All cast & crew
- See more cast details at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Italian crew was so upset over the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, which occurred during the shoot, that they dedicated an extra hour of work in his memory. The letter from the Italian workers' union read, "the best way to honor the memory of a man of action is by action". Producer-director Stanley Kramer replied with the following announcement: "The decision of the Italian crew of The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969) to dedicate one extra hour of work to the memory of Robert Kennedy has no parallel in motion-picture history. The American group in Anticoli Corrado is deeply honored to know you and privileged to be your coworkers".
- GoofsWhen Tufa the deserter meets Caterina after being released by the Germans, Caterina places the bread knife parallel to the side of the cutting board. Next shot, the knife is away from the cutting board with the blade pointing away from the cutting board.
- Quotes
Padre Polenta: [Bombolini wants the priest to pray for the rain to stop while the villagers move the wine] Nobody ever prays for sun, they only pray for rain.
Babbaluche: In Noah's ark, people prayed for rain?
Padre Polenta: That was before organized religion.
Babbaluche: Sure, all they had was God, the poor bastards.
- ConnectionsFeatured in TCM Guest Programmer: Alfred Molina (2007)
Top review
"There is No Wine" Says the Town Drunkard/Mayor; Wonderful Underrated Film
The book that this movie is based was one of the biggest best-sellers of the 1960's by the author of "The Great Imposter" (also adapted into a movie starring Tony Curtis). The book was hailed by one critic as giving a sense hope in a crazy world. And that's what this story is about, a kind of modern David and Golliath. Or maybe the town-drunkard-turned-mayor versus Nazi Germany.
The village of Santa Vittoria is no Rome. It's just a small town in Italy where the townspeople live very simple lives. They would be almost destitute except for one small commodity they all share: the town makes and exports wonderful wine to all parts of the world. They may not make as much as Mondavi, but it's a good living. Now, it's War World II, and the Germans have infiltrated the town. Not because they love the small-town folk of Santa Vittoria and want to protect them. They want their world-famous wine to help finance the war. But of course, the townspeople are dependent upon the wine for their livelihoods. So Anthony Quinn, perfectly cast as the town drunkard who ends up mayor, comes up with a plan. They give the Germans some of the wine and insist that they have given all the town possesses.
Hardy Kruger as the German officer in charge of the operation is unconvinced. They seemed too happy and too willing to give up their wine. He knows the townspeople are hiding more wine, and he will use all means at his disposal to retrieve every last bottle. The cat and mouse game is on! Can a bunch of simple-folk led by their clownish mayor in rural Italy outwit the likes of the German army? I vastly underrated movie that is mostly hilarious from beginning until end. There are a couple of references to torture but mostly it is quite a fun plot. Will Anthony Quinn and the town through sheer determination wear down the stubbornness of Hardy Kruger and the Germans, who seem absolutely relentless in their conviction that more wine exists? And now out on DVD!
Please vote for this movie on sites that have influence on DVD releases to get this movie available!
The village of Santa Vittoria is no Rome. It's just a small town in Italy where the townspeople live very simple lives. They would be almost destitute except for one small commodity they all share: the town makes and exports wonderful wine to all parts of the world. They may not make as much as Mondavi, but it's a good living. Now, it's War World II, and the Germans have infiltrated the town. Not because they love the small-town folk of Santa Vittoria and want to protect them. They want their world-famous wine to help finance the war. But of course, the townspeople are dependent upon the wine for their livelihoods. So Anthony Quinn, perfectly cast as the town drunkard who ends up mayor, comes up with a plan. They give the Germans some of the wine and insist that they have given all the town possesses.
Hardy Kruger as the German officer in charge of the operation is unconvinced. They seemed too happy and too willing to give up their wine. He knows the townspeople are hiding more wine, and he will use all means at his disposal to retrieve every last bottle. The cat and mouse game is on! Can a bunch of simple-folk led by their clownish mayor in rural Italy outwit the likes of the German army? I vastly underrated movie that is mostly hilarious from beginning until end. There are a couple of references to torture but mostly it is quite a fun plot. Will Anthony Quinn and the town through sheer determination wear down the stubbornness of Hardy Kruger and the Germans, who seem absolutely relentless in their conviction that more wine exists? And now out on DVD!
Please vote for this movie on sites that have influence on DVD releases to get this movie available!
helpful•305
- classicalsteve
- Jan 11, 2006
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Das Geheimnis von Santa Vittoria
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $6,300,000 (estimated)
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By what name was The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969) officially released in India in English?
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