The Best of Enemies
Brief Synopsis
Rival British and Italian troupe leaders carry their friendly competition into a POW camp.
Cast & Crew
Read More
Guy Hamilton
Director
David Niven
Major Richardson
Alberto Sordi
Captain Blasi
Michael Wilding
Lieutenant Burke
Amedeo Nazzari
Major Fornari
Harry Andrews
Captain Rootes
Film Details
Also Known As
I due nemici, Two Enemies
Genre
Comedy
War
Release Date
Jan
1962
Premiere Information
New York opening: 6 Aug 1962
Production Company
Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica S.p.A.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures
Country
United Kingdom
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 44m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Synopsis
In 1941 a British officer, Major Richardson, and his reconnaissance pilot, Lieutenant Burke, fall into the hands of an Italian patrol when their plane crashes in the Abyssinian desert. Although an immediate dislike springs up between Richardson and his captor, Captain Blasi, the Italian, hoping to conserve his scant rations, allows the two Englishmen to escape on condition that the British do not pursue his patrol. Later, when Richardson is ordered by his commanding officer to attack the fort in which the Italians are hiding, Blasi regards the action as an ungentlemanly act of treachery. Following a forest fire which drives both sides to the safety of a small island, Richardson captures Blasi and his men and sets out in the general direction of his base. Hopelessly lost, he leads the two groups to a deserted Italian fort, where they meet hostile native tribesmen who take their rifles and shoes. The blunders made by the two officers help to thaw their animosity, and a grudging friendship develops between them. Eventually they stumble into Addis Ababa, which is now, unexpectedly, in the hands of the British. As Blasi and his men are lined up for shipment to a prisoner of war camp, Richardson and his men dignify the Italians' defeat by giving them a respectful military salute.
Director
Guy Hamilton
Director
Cast
David Niven
Major Richardson
Alberto Sordi
Captain Blasi
Michael Wilding
Lieutenant Burke
Amedeo Nazzari
Major Fornari
Harry Andrews
Captain Rootes
David Opatoshu
Captain Bernasconi
Aldo Giuffrè
Sergeant Todini
Tiberio Mitri
Corporal Moccaia
Kenneth Fortescue
Lieutenant Thomlinson
Duncan Macrae
Sergeant Trevethan
Noel Harrison
Lieutenant Hilary
Robert Desmond
Private Slinger
Michael Trubshawe
Colonel Brownlow
Bernard Cribbins
Private Tanner
Ronald Fraser
Prefect
Pietro Marescalchi
Corporal Brotolin
Alessandro Ninchi
Lieutenant Del Pra
Pippo Fazio
Sergeant Spadoni
Bruno Cattaneo
Private Mattone
Luigi Bracale
Guddu
Crew
Age & Scarpelli
Adaptation
Bert Bates
Film Editor
Lazare Bianco
Production Manager
Bruno Brunacci
Sound
Piero Cavazutti
Sound
Dario Cecchi
Costumes
Suso Cecchi D'amico
Adaptation
Dino De Laurentiis
Producer
Manuel Del Campo
Dial Director
Ezio Frigerio
Costumes
Mario Garbuglia
Art Director
Giorgio Herman
Set Decoration
Luigi Luraschi
Associate Producer
Mario Maffei
Assistant Director
Jack Pulman
Screenwriter
Nino Rota
Music
Giuseppe Rotunno
Director of Photography
Ralph Serpe
Associate Producer
Bruno Tolusso
Production Manager
Luciano Vincenzoni
Story
Yoel Zilberg
Assistant Director
Film Details
Also Known As
I due nemici, Two Enemies
Genre
Comedy
War
Release Date
Jan
1962
Premiere Information
New York opening: 6 Aug 1962
Production Company
Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica S.p.A.
Distribution Company
Columbia Pictures
Country
United Kingdom
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 44m
Sound
Mono
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio
2.35 : 1
Articles
The Best of Enemies
Rival British and Italian troupe leaders carry their friendly competition into a POW camp.
The Best of Enemies
Rival British and Italian troupe leaders carry their friendly competition into a POW camp.
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Israel. Rome opening: October 1961 as I due nemici; London opening: January 1962. Working title: Two Enemies; prerelease length: 109 min. Columbia Pictures participated in the financing of the film.
Miscellaneous Notes
The Country of Israel & The Country of Italy
Released in United States 1961
Released in United States 1961
