The Battle of Neretva (1969)
(Bitka na Neretvi)
Country: YUG/US/IT/GER/GB
Technical: col/scope 175m
Director: Veljko Bulajic
Cast: Yul Brynner, Curt Jurgens, Sylva Koscina, Hardy Kruger, Sergei Bondarchuk, Franco Nero, Orson Welles
Synopsis:
As the Germans launch a pre-emptive strike in Western Bosnia in 1943, the only way out for the Partisans and refugees is a bridge over the river Neretva.
Review:
Like many of these European spectaculars, it's all noise and carnage, and little narrative shape - probably because history is treated with greater respect. Some attempt is made at linking characters together, but alas as usual the dialogue and dubbing are deplorable. The happiest decision was the one that cast Brynner as an engineer who just goes around blowing things up! Which said, the technical credits and production values are impeccable, as befits an undertaking with Tito's blessing, and the final battle on the sunlit plain in particular has true sweep. Bernard Herrmann joins in the generalised din and uproar with the LPO and some of those inimitable cadences.
(Bitka na Neretvi)
Country: YUG/US/IT/GER/GB
Technical: col/scope 175m
Director: Veljko Bulajic
Cast: Yul Brynner, Curt Jurgens, Sylva Koscina, Hardy Kruger, Sergei Bondarchuk, Franco Nero, Orson Welles
Synopsis:
As the Germans launch a pre-emptive strike in Western Bosnia in 1943, the only way out for the Partisans and refugees is a bridge over the river Neretva.
Review:
Like many of these European spectaculars, it's all noise and carnage, and little narrative shape - probably because history is treated with greater respect. Some attempt is made at linking characters together, but alas as usual the dialogue and dubbing are deplorable. The happiest decision was the one that cast Brynner as an engineer who just goes around blowing things up! Which said, the technical credits and production values are impeccable, as befits an undertaking with Tito's blessing, and the final battle on the sunlit plain in particular has true sweep. Bernard Herrmann joins in the generalised din and uproar with the LPO and some of those inimitable cadences.
(Bitka na Neretvi)
Country: YUG/US/IT/GER/GB
Technical: col/scope 175m
Director: Veljko Bulajic
Cast: Yul Brynner, Curt Jurgens, Sylva Koscina, Hardy Kruger, Sergei Bondarchuk, Franco Nero, Orson Welles
Synopsis:
As the Germans launch a pre-emptive strike in Western Bosnia in 1943, the only way out for the Partisans and refugees is a bridge over the river Neretva.
Review:
Like many of these European spectaculars, it's all noise and carnage, and little narrative shape - probably because history is treated with greater respect. Some attempt is made at linking characters together, but alas as usual the dialogue and dubbing are deplorable. The happiest decision was the one that cast Brynner as an engineer who just goes around blowing things up! Which said, the technical credits and production values are impeccable, as befits an undertaking with Tito's blessing, and the final battle on the sunlit plain in particular has true sweep. Bernard Herrmann joins in the generalised din and uproar with the LPO and some of those inimitable cadences.