Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Marcello Mastroianni | ... | Curzio Malaparte | |
Ken Marshall | ... | Jimmy Wren | |
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Alexandra King | ... | Deborah Wyatt |
Carlo Giuffrè | ... | Eduardo Mazzullo | |
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Yann Babilée | ... | Jean-Louis |
Jeanne Valérie | ... | Principessa a Capri | |
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Liliana Tari | ... | Maria Concetta |
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Peppe Barra | ... | Sarto (as Giuseppe Barra) |
Cristina Donadio | ... | Amica di Anna | |
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Rosaria della Femmina | ... | Amante di Jimmy (as Maria Rosaria Della Femmina) |
Jacques Sernas | ... | Gen Guillaume | |
Claudia Cardinale | ... | Principessa Consuelo Caracciolo | |
Burt Lancaster | ... | Gen. Mark Clark | |
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Gianni Abbate | ||
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Anna Maria Ackermann |
In 1943, as the Italian Captain, Curzio Malaparte, shakes hands with the U.S. Army General, Mark Clark, the war is practically over for battle-scarred Naples. However, the long-awaited peace is yet to come. Among the devastating war's many casualties, once more, the innocents are the biggest victims, as the impoverished mothers and daughters are forced into prostitution, having no other means of survival. Against the backdrop of the mighty Mount Vesuvius, three disparate women--the virginal, Maria Concetta; Capri's aristocratic princess, Consuelo Caracciolo, and the idealistic U.S. Air Force pilot, Deborah Wyatt--find themselves trapped in an unbearable hell on earth. Is our delicate skin the only barrier between the immortal soul and the evils of the world? Written by Nick Riganas
This movie tells an historic story, and begins with a somewhat arty slant. But it gradually becomes a dadaist study in human depravity and thinly veiled injustice in terrible times. Though set in WWII, it is not a war movie. It probes deeply and uncomfortably into moral issues rarely discussed in war movies. For this reason it is extremely compelling.
The plot line is not direct, and the characters often confusing, but that is it's goal to be a moving piece of cinematic art. The film develops into a Felliniesque dream where logic and a pleasant, easy, normal straightforward narrative dissolve into a a gaudy abstract symbolism that will require a second viewing to figure out. This film is on the level of Bergman, Fellini, Godard etc. It is a challenging, heartfelt film, not suitable for date night. The direction, camera, acting, editing, sets, wardrobe, casting, are excellent.
I watched this in 2020-- 12 years after it was released on the Criterion Channel. Never had heard of it, but the description sounded interesting. Interesting, the language is Italian with English subtitles, even though many of the characters are American (including Burt Lancaster) who was ironically typecast as the dithering, bullying American general (referring to Buck Turgidson in DR STRANGELOVE).
I couldn't find any professional reviews of this film, or any box office history, so, because of its ambivalent anti-war/anti-Americanism it may never have played theatrically in the US. The Criterion Channel may be the only place you'll find it. But if you love cinema, you'll love this film.