Représailles

SYNOPSIS

This war drama stars Richard Burton as the German commandant in Rome and Marcello Mastroianni as a priest trying to prevent mass executions in retaliation for the death of German troops at the hands of the partisans. The two fine actors have to gargle with some awful dialogue, and the pace would make a snail itch with impatience. A resounding flop everywhere except Italy, the film made headline news when a niece of Pope Pius XII sued the author of the original novel, as well as director George Pan Cosmatos and producer Carlo Ponti for claiming her uncle was a Nazi collaborator. She won the case, and all were sentenced to 18 months in jail, though legal entanglements ensured they never went inside.