Le meilleur ennemi

I saw this movie in Killeen, Texas just after I returned from Kagnew Station, an Army Base in, then, Ethiopia. I had visited Italian and English War Cemetaries in Asmara. The main battle took place near Keren.

The movie takes place some distance south of either city after the fall of Asmara. The scenery was accurate and must have been filmed in the proper area.

The interplay between the British and the Italians was quite accurate and enjoyable. An example of the situation presented was cited in Under the Red Sea Sun where the author found the Italian officers still carrying their sidearms in Asmara.

One of the most ironic scenes in the movie takes place when the mountain tops surrounding the group is dotted with 'shifta.' The 'shifta' were trained by the English to help overthrow the Italian rule, but became independent entrepreneurs, a la Jesse James, after the fall of Asmara.

This movie is one of my favorites. Niven is hilarious as is Sordi. They play off each other beautifully and the script is a laugher from beginning to end. Sordi's wide-eyed expressions and expressive Italian style complimented Niven's traditional Brit, "Jolly ho, Old Pip!" making a wonderful film. The soccer game between the Italians and Brits using a round Ethiopian basket is a classic scene. I love this film, have seen it at least a dozen times and will see it again every chance I get. Hey, join in and see it too. You will not be disappointed.

As far as I know The Best Of Enemies is the only film ever done about a forgotten part of World War II, the campaign in Ethiopia. The first nation to fall to Fascist aggression is ironically the first liberated by it. When Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa was captured by the British there was great rejoicing in the United Kingdom which at that point didn't have a lot to rejoice about. That incident is most important in the climax of the film.

David Niven and Albert Sordi play beautifully off against each other as they take turns being each other's prisoners. Neither is a professional soldier and that's important as discipline from both armies kind of breaks down as the two try to get back to the war from the back outposts of the Ethiopian desert that both small companies are stuck in.

I will say The Best Of Enemies does give credence that the Italians were not best of soldiers during World War II.

Best scene in the film is when the native Ethiopians surround both and want the weapons they have and prove to be better strategists than either commander. The native chief gives out with a timely warning about taking your white man's war back to your own countries.

The Best Of Enemies is a fine comedy with perfectly matched leads and even has some serious messages we should listen to.

Saw this film while stationed at a remote site in the military. As I remember, it was one of the few movies, at the time, that really made me laugh. It so resembled the nuttiness of everyday military life. It displays attitudes of peoples from different cultures required to depend upon each other for survival. It shows that war, itself, is a national problem while the average soldier is really not so different from his enemy. If this were on DVD, I would purchase it, in a heartbeat. The truths brought forward in this story are as meaningful today as when I saw it in 1962. Best yet, every member of the military audience viewing it, laughed until they rolled. It didn't matter what their political orientation, the humor was there for all to see. If a fan of "King of Hearts", I recommend it.

It is so many years since i have seen this film because ??? you tell me why this film is not on DVD other than the younger generation would not want to see it, both main actors were splendid no matter if they were not "great actors" who are the great actors anyway it is mostly a matter of personal enjoyment anyway.of course i would buy it if it were on DVD,i am 60 years old it may be a "generation thing" and i can understand the need to make a profit to reproduce the film on DVD but why is it so difficult to show the film on TV.The mix of Italian and British humour is quite rare on film and as this movie works so well this is yet another reason for a showing on TV.I can get this film on VHS from Amazon for over £30 plus i no longer have a video recorder -but im thinking about it because i would so love to see this film again.