The Great War (1959 film)  

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The Great War (Template:Lang-it) is a 1959 Italian comedy-drama war film directed by Mario Monicelli. It tells the story of an odd couple of army buddies in World War I; the movie, while played on a comedic register, does not hide from the viewer the horrors and grimness of trench warfare. Starring Alberto Sordi and Vittorio Gassman and produced by Dino De Laurentiis, the film won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. Its crew also included Danilo Donati (costumes) and Mario Garbuglia (set designer).

It was an Academy Award nominee as Best Foreign Film. In 1999 the critics of Ciak magazine chose it as one of the 100 most important films in history, and was selected to enter the list of the "100 Italian films to be saved". It won huge success outside Italy, especially in France.

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Plot

1916. The Roman Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca meet in a military district during the call to arms. The former promises to deceive the other in exchange for money. The two meet again on a train to the front: after Giovanni's initial anger, they end up sympathizing and becoming friends. Although completely different in character, they are united by the lack of any ideal and the desire to avoid any danger in order to emerge unscathed from the war. After going through numerous vicissitudes during training, fighting and rare leave, following the defeat of Caporetto, they are commanded as relay runners, a very dangerous task, which is entrusted to them because they are considered to be the "least efficient".

One evening, after carrying out their mission, they lie down in the stable of an outpost not far from the front line, but a sudden advance of the Austrians "transports" them to enemy territory. Surprised to wear coats of the Austro-Hungarian army in an attempt to escape, they are captured, accused of espionage and threatened with shooting. Overwhelmed by fear, they admit that they have crucial information on the Italian counterattack on the Piave, and in order to save themselves, they decide to pass it on to the enemy. The arrogance of the Austrian officer and a joke of contempt for the Italians, however, restores strength to their dignity, leading them to keep the secret until the execution, one boldly insulting the enemy captain and the other who, after the shooting of the companion, pretends not to be aware of the information and is thus shot shortly after the friend.

The battle ended shortly after, with the victory of the Italian army and the reconquest of the position fallen into the hands of the Austrians, ignoring the noble sacrifice of Busacca and Jacovacci, believed to be fugitives, who opted for the shooting in order not to betray the own compatriots.

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Cast


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