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Many Wars Ago

Original title: Uomini contro
  • 1970
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.6/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Many Wars Ago (1970)
DramaWar

On the Italian/Austrian front during World War I, a disastrous Italian attack upon the Austrian positions leads to a mutiny among the Italian troops.On the Italian/Austrian front during World War I, a disastrous Italian attack upon the Austrian positions leads to a mutiny among the Italian troops.On the Italian/Austrian front during World War I, a disastrous Italian attack upon the Austrian positions leads to a mutiny among the Italian troops.

  • Director
    • Francesco Rosi
  • Writers
    • Tonino Guerra
    • Raffaele La Capria
    • Francesco Rosi
  • Stars
    • Mark Frechette
    • Alain Cuny
    • Gian Maria Volontè
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.6/10
    1.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Francesco Rosi
    • Writers
      • Tonino Guerra
      • Raffaele La Capria
      • Francesco Rosi
    • Stars
      • Mark Frechette
      • Alain Cuny
      • Gian Maria Volontè
    • 7User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Photos20

    Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Mark Frechette in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Franco Graziosi in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Mario Feliciani in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Nino Vingelli in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Alain Cuny and Mark Frechette in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Franco Graziosi in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Gian Maria Volontè and Giampiero Albertini in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Gian Maria Volontè in Many Wars Ago (1970)
    Many Wars Ago (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mark Frechette
    Mark Frechette
    • Sub-lieutenant Sassu
    Alain Cuny
    Alain Cuny
    • General Leone
    Gian Maria Volontè
    Gian Maria Volontè
    • Lieutenant Ottolenghi
    Giampiero Albertini
    • Capitan Abbati
    Pier Paolo Capponi
    Pier Paolo Capponi
    • Lieutenant Santini
    Franco Graziosi
    • Major Ruggero Malchiodi
    Mario Feliciani
    Mario Feliciani
    • Medic Colonel
    Alberto Mastino
    • Soldier Marrasi
    Brunetto Del Vita
    • Colonel Stringari
    Nino Vingelli
    Nino Vingelli
    • Neapolitan Injured Soldier
    Zdravko Smojver
    • Sergeant
    Antonio Pavan
    • Lieutenant Pavan
    Emilio Bonucci
    • Soldier
    Franco Acampora
    • Soldier
    • (as Francesco Acampora)
    Luigi Pignatelli
    • Sub-lieutenant Avellini
    Spartaco Conversi
    • Lieutenant in Trench
    Maurizio Mastino
    • Scout Soldier
    Daria Nicolodi
    Daria Nicolodi
    • Nurse
    • Director
      • Francesco Rosi
    • Writers
      • Tonino Guerra
      • Raffaele La Capria
      • Francesco Rosi
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Italian censorship visa # 56677 delivered on 9 September 1970.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Tenebrae: Interview with Dario Argento and Daria Nicolodi (1982)

    User reviews7

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    "Murder is punished unless done in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets."
    Director Francesco Rosi has 'freely' adapted 'A Year on a High Plateau' by Emilio Lussu in which the author relates his experience of the horrors of trench warfare as an infantry officer.

    There is no doubting the technical excellence of this film. The muted tones and sweeping camerawork of Pasqualino de Santis together with the ominous score of Piero Piccioni are riveting and Signor Rosi has beautifully choreographed the scenes of mass slaughter. The question is of course does the film engage our emotions? In my case I'm afraid not. There are too many scenes where the director is trying to make a point and is simply laying it on with a trowel.

    The author himself, a highly principled and respected politician, was still alive when the film was released and was no doubt surprised at the fate of his character in the final scene! He thought that although some episodes were faithfully re-enacted the film's spirit was far removed from that of his original.

    He is portrayed here as Sassu by Mark Frechette in one of two Italian films he made following his debut in Antonioni's 'Zabriskie Point'. His is a sincere and understated performance and it is a great pity that this actor was such a troubled soul who was to meet a bizarre end while serving a prison sentence for robbery!

    The character of mad General Leone, based upon General Giacinto Ferrero, is played by veteran Alain Cuny. This role is a gift to any self-respecting character actor and his performance is utterly mesmerising. It comes as no surprise that Mr. Frechette is dubbed but it does seem strange that Monsieur Cuny is also dubbed considering he had been appearing in Italian films since the early 1950's. This does not however detract from his magnificently menacing portrayal. The 'socialist' element here and knowing Signor Rosi's work, there has to be one, is personified by the Ottolenghi of Gian Maria Volonte whose far-Left leanings have been well documented.

    Upon its release this film met with a great deal of resistance from the military authorities. It has this in common of course with 'Paths of Glory' with which it has inevitably been compared. It must be said that although made on a smaller budget and in black-and-white, Stanley Kubrick's film packs a bigger punch as does the underrated 'Westfront' of G. W. Pabst.

    Whatever its merits Francesco Rosi's film lacks the subtlety of those two films but still serves as a grim reminder that whichever way you look at it, war is hell.
    helpful•5
    1
    • brogmiller
    • Feb 7, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 17, 1970 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • Yugoslavia
    • Language
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Godinu dana na visoravni
    • Filming locations
      • Centralni Filmski Studio Kosutnjak, Belgrade, Serbia(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Prima Cinematografica
      • Jadran Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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