THE PIGEON THAT TOOK ROME

US, 1962, 103 minutes, Black and white.
Charlton Heston, Elsa Martinelli, Harry Guardino,
Directed by Melville Shavelson.

A light comedy tribute to the Allied presence in Italy during World War II. The title indicates the ironic tone. Yet the treatment of war is fairly realistic even with the comic overtones. The film looks like a piece of recreation for Charlton Heston and he gives an enjoyably light performance. He is supported by Elsa Martinelli and an American Italian cast.

The film was made by Melville Shavelson who had a reputation for light domestic comedies, like Yours Mine And Ours, Houseboat and so on. His only other venture into filming war was the spectacular Cast a giant Shadow about which he wrote a humorous but interesting book: How to Make A Jewish Movie.

1. A good comedy? The war comedy genre? The impact and importance of the opening?

2. The importance of the narrative technique, the highlighting of the jokes? the irony in the war setting, the foolishness of human nature?

3. The importance of a comedy with a real war netting, in a real war? How authentic did the war seem, the role of the Americans? the effect on the Italians, on Rome? The situation as right for poking fun at war, people in war? The overall effect of this?

4. How good was the picture of the Americans? Were they presented as stupid, too stupid? The contrast with the Germans, the contrast with the Italians? Which details highlighted this best? Heston and Guardino in themselves, the importance of their mission, the Americanness of their behaviour, their disguise, their linking with the Italians, their work in transmitting information? Their identification plans, sabotage? The importance of the pigeons? Their
ultimate success? As heroes of conventional war exploits?

6. The presentation of the girls, how attractive, Italian, the pregnant girl, relationship with the Germans, the household and the way of life, the father and the boy? The sentiment of the presentation of the Italians? The presentation of marriage, the banquet?

7. How appropriate were the love stories within the war and the comedy? Romantic, conventional, authentic?

8. The presentation of the pigeons, the pigeon mix-up, the consequent movement?

9. The picture of suffering and happiness in the war situation? Ultimate happiness?

10. Why do audiences enjoy such comedies? The human value?