THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA

US, 1969, 139 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnani, Hardy Kruger, Verna Lisi, Sergio Franchi.
Directed by Stanley Kramer.

The Secret of Santa Vittoria was designed as a popular big-budget film of the best-seller by Robert Crichton about the Italian village whose livelihood is wine. During World War II, the Germans want the wine; the villagers hide it and refuse to reveal its whereabouts. They are led by the new mayor, Bombolini, formerly the village clown.

The film succeeded as popular entertainment and capitalised on Anthony Quinn's ability and reputation for playing Greeks and Italians. When he is not on screen, this long comedy melodrama tends to flag.

Stanley Kramer, once noted for hard-hitting social dramas, moved in the 60's to lighter message films, e.g. Ship of Fools, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, R.P.M. The Secret of Santa Vittoria is one of these.

1. The film as an entertaining message film - the ordinary heroism in a small town and small people?

2. The universal significance of Bombolini, the village clown (who drinks, quarrels, paints slogans on a high water tank), who can respond to a life and death challenge and become heroic? The light treatment of war, with the sudden seriousness of death as the fascist leaders rush out of prison to the Germans expecting liberation only to be bashed and tortured for the hiding place of the wine? Was Bombolini right in offering these people as hostages? The co-operation of the villagers; the group effort and secrecy? The presentation of the German leader in a sympathetic light and his frustration in his search for the wine, his respect for Borabolini, his infatuation with the Contessa?

6. Italian ways - a man's world, shrewish wives, easy behaviour compared with the standards that receive lip-service?

7. The cliche characters and situations; the S.S., the Contessa and the wounded soldier, farce scenes?

8. How could the film have been improved and made better impact?