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 date |
|
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 as Benito Mussolini
- Franco Nero as Walter Audisio 'Valerio'
- Lisa Gastoni as Claretta Petacci
- Lino Capolicchio as Pierluigi Bellini delle Stelle 'Pedro'
- Henry Fonda as Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster
- Giuseppe Addobbati as Raffaele Cadorna, Jr.
- Bruno Corazzari as Lt. Fritz Birzer
- Giacomo Rossi Stuart as Jack Donati
- Rodolfo Dal Pra as Rodolfo Graziani
- Manfred Freyberger as Otto Kisnat
References
- Angelo Paratico: Ben. Mursia, 2010.