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Alberto Sordi, Vittorio Gassman, Silvana Mangano, Folco Lulli, Bernard Blier ...( see more  see more... ) , Romolo Valli , Vittorio Sanipoli

Italy, 1916. Oreste Jacovacci and Giovanni Busacca are called, as all the Italian youths, to serve the army in the WWI. They both try in every way to avoid serving the army. Giovanni bribes Oreste, be...( read more  read more... )lieving to his false pledges to make him avoiding the army. But the destiny make them meeting again on the train directed to the front. Nevertheless Oreste stolen money to Giovanni they become friends and in first times are allocated to a secondary and quite front (village of Tigliano). Here they spend some months in relative peace and Giovanni finds time to fall in love for prostitute Costantina. But war is getting everyday closer. During the most important battle among Italians and Austro-Hungarians, Giovanni and Oreste are in charge to deliver a vital message to the Italian headquarters. But, unfortunately, they fall in the hands of an Austrian officer that, under life menace, starts an interrogation to find out the Italian message. What they should try to do now?

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96% liked it

216 ratings

Unrated, 137 minutes

Directed by: Mario Monicelli

Release Date: September 1, 1959

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on the set of 'La grande guerra' (1959) Gassman, Mangano, Sordi on the set of 'La grande guerra' 'La grande guerra' - poster Gassman and Sordi in 'La grande guerra' Alberto Sordi and Folco Lulli in 'La grande guerra' 'La grande guerra' Gassman, Lulli and Sordi in 'La grande guerra' Gassman and Sordi in 'La grande guerra' Gassman, Sordi and Lulli in 'La grande guerra' Gassman and Mangano in 'La grande guerra' Sordi and Gassman in 'La grande guerra' Gassman and Sordi in 'La grande guerra'
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Flixster Reviews (14)

  • Caltiki
    July 16, 2009
    Caltiki
    The 'Paths of Glory' of Italian Cinema.
    A monumental masterpiece that draws the viewer deeply into the tragedy of WWI, and in particular into the hell of the trenches on the Italian front. In a tragicomic tone, the story follows the adventures of a odd couple of coward soldiers...( read more) (Gassman - Sordi), trying to survive by avoiding at all costs the battlefield, who finally turn into unintentional heroes. 'La grande guerra' is not a tale of heroism and bravery though. In a winning combination of drama, irony and real horror, this is a successful attempt to show the true feelings and fears of ordinary men and deal with the absurdity and contradiction of war.
    Realism and historical accuracy, objectivity and absence of rhetorical accents add value to the beauty of this work. Unique and perfect in every aspect, 'La grande guerra' is one of the finest (anti) war movies I've ever had the pleasure of watching.
  • pier007
    June 20, 2009
    pier007
    A roman and a milanese rascals are enrolled against their will, to serve for their country in the first world war. After playing tricks on each other, a tight bond of friendship based on survival will unite them.
    Mario Monicelli gives a quixotesque note on war, a tragic but also ...( read more)comical view of the people forced to fight for ideals they don't share; and what better interpreters to bring that to life than the magnificent couple Vittorio Gassman and Alberto Sordi, two often cynical but in the end righteous men whose only desire was to make their way out of the battle, to reach their respective dreams somewhere else.
  • Diogenis
    December 16, 2009
    Diogenis
    Italians that never distinguished themselves in war, have made probably the best anti-war films. Much too down to earth and sophisticated to believe in war or take it seriously. The opposite can be seen in American WWII films
  • flusbiss
    June 28, 2009
    flusbiss
    La Grande Guerra is a must-see.
    I said all....
  • arturobonaviapela
    January 14, 2009
    arturobonaviapela
    La prima guerra mondiale raccontata da Monicelli tramite i volti di Alberto Sordi e Gassman. Poteva raccontare la storia mostrando gente che si spara, cade, muore. Invece prende due ragazzi che hanno di sicuro meglio da are che mettersi le divise, e ovviamente hanno paura! Quindi...( read more) questi si ritrovano a inventarsi espedienti nuovi ogni dė per sfuggire alla battaglia in prima persona... Monicelli racconta l'Italia divisa dai dialetti che si ritrova e si unisce nella guerra, mostra il coraggio anche di chi credeva di non averlo, e l'amore che ognuno di noi dovrebbe avere ancora, nonostante tutto, per il bel paese... che di momenti bui ne ha vissuti pių di adesso!
  • hypathio7
    July 24, 2008
    hypathio7
    nominated for best foreign film at the oscars
  • soloclaire
    June 23, 2008
    soloclaire
    Sordi and Gassman are great! I love this movie: funny and touching!
  • AleTrixy
    May 1, 2008
    AleTrixy
    Monicell''s masterpiece is probably the best film about the First World War. Hilarious and harrowing, raw and poetic.

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