Last Days of Mussolini
Mussolini: ultimo atto Last Days of Mussolini | |
---|---|
Directed by | Carlo Lizzani |
Produced by | Enzo Peri |
Written by |
Carlo Lizzani Fabio Pittorru |
Starring |
Rod Steiger Franco Nero Henry Fonda |
Music by | Ennio Morricone |
Cinematography | Roberto Gerardi |
Edited by | Franco Fraticelli |
Release dates |
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Running time | 135 minutes |
Country | Italy |
Language | Italian |
Last Days of Mussolini (Italian:Mussolini: Ultimo atto) is a 1975 Italian drama film directed by Carlo Lizzani and starring Rod Steiger, Franco Nero and Lisa Gastoni. The film depicts the down fall of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.[1]
Plot
In 1945, Benito Mussolini goes to Milan to talk with Archbishop Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster in order that he help him to escape from Italy. The Republic of Salò, the last bastion of fascism, is decaying, and the Americans, along with the partisans are about to win over Milan. Mussolini flees, pursued by his lover Claretta Petacci, and manages to get to the northern village of Dongo. There he clashes with the Germans, who order him to disguise himself as an officer of Germany rather than be captured by the partisans. Mussolini accepts without objection, always hoping for a revolt of his loyal fascists, but they are in jeopardy. When Mussolini's recognized, the leader of the partisans: Walter Audisio would like to first give him to the Americans, so that Mussolini is regularly processed. But the war crimes of the Duce are too many, and so Audisio finally decides to shoot him in front of the Villa Belmone in the village of Giulino, with his female companion.
Cast
- Rod Steiger ... Benito Mussolini
- Franco Nero ... Walter Audisio 'Valerio'
- Lisa Gastoni ... Claretta Petacci
- Lino Capolicchio ... Pierluigi Bellini delle Stelle 'Pedro'
- Henry Fonda ... Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster
- Giuseppe Addobbati ... Raffaele Cadorna, Jr.
- Bruno Corazzari ... Lt. Fritz Birzer
- Giacomo Rossi Stuart ... Jack Donati
- Rodolfo Dal Pra ... Rodolfo Graziani
- Manfred Freyberger ... Otto Kisnat
References
Angelo Paratico Ben Mursia, 2010.