Last Days of Mussolini (1977)

April is the cruelest month... for Fascists! Academy Award® winner Rod Steiger (IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, DUCK YOU SUCKER) heads a stellar international cast as hunted Italian prime minister Benito Mussolini in Carlo Lizzani's bracing LAST DAYS OF MUSSOLINI. April, 1945: With the Third Reich losing ground in the final months of World War II and the Allies pressing towards Italy, Fascist dictator Mussolini (Steiger) flees the wrath of his own people and heads for Switzerland with his mistress, Clara Petacci (WILD, WILD PLANET's Lisa Gastoni). Hunted by both the Americans (led by Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, of THE NIGHT EVELYN CAME OUT OF THE GRAVE) and the partisans (commanded by DJANGO star Franco Nero), Mussolini finds all avenues of escape blocked and is swiftly captured by the freedom fighters. Held prisoner on the shores of Lake Como, "Il Duce" and his lover endure a dark night of the soul before answering for their crimes at dawn. History comes explosively to life in this tense, sprawling wartime drama featuring Academy Award® winner Henry Fonda (THE GRAPES OF WRATH), Lino Capolicchio (THE HOUSE WITH THE LAUGHING WINDOWS), Umberto Raho (SECRETS OF A CALLGIRL) and Luciano Pigozzi (THE WHIP AND THE BODY), with a score by Ennio Morricone. Never before available on DVD, LAST DAYS OF MUSSOLINI is presented by NoShame Films uncut, in a majestic new Hi-Def transfer taken from original vault materials.

Trying to Escape Fate!

Director Carlo Lizzani is a veteran Italian film maker formed in the Italian "Neorealist" film school; this influence is still perceptible in the present movie.
Lizzani in his extended career has delivered some very good films as "Chronache di Poveri Amanti" ("Chronicle of Poor Lovers" 1954) and "Il Procceso de Verona" (The Verona Trial 1963) amongst other.

"Mussolini: Ultimo Atto" (Mussolini: Last Act 1974) show dictator's four last days of life. The film shows Mussolini as he was: arrogant, selfish, histrionic, liar, opportunist, unremorseful, irresponsible ... yet human.
Around him a plethora of flunky officers strive to attract his favors. His faithful lover, Claretta Petacci, still clings to "the big man" with desperate love.
Germans, Allies, Partisans, Vatican and Neutrals compose an intricate political and diplomatic ballet around this sinking figure.

Photography in charge of veteran Roberto Gerardi and music score composed by Ennio Morricone are excellent.
Rod Steiger is outstanding in his characterization of the Italian dictator, his attitudes and corporal demeanor is exact; yet the best of his playacting is the way in which he conveys to the audience the internal turmoil of Mussolini.
Lisa Gastoni as Claretta, Henry Fonda as Cardinale Schuster and Franco Nero as Colonel Valerio offer great performances too.

A very good historical film that will be thoroughly enjoyed by history fans and general public too.
Reviewed by Max Yofre.

June 15, 2007

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