The Secret of Santa Vittoria

Think you just turned 10 in a very small and provincial little village in the outskirts of Rome when one day of June 1968 the "AMERICANI" litterally take possession of the place. The only thing you know is they have chosen the place, ANTICOLI CORRADO, as a set for the latest Stanley Kramer's movie. Most of the peasants will work in it (average pay 5,000 Lira of those day, about 25 Euros nowdays), some of them will get big money for big troubles: the innocent place will never be the same eversince. Yet, even 35 years later, we Anticolani of those days still watch the movie with unlimited joy and endless nostalgia!!!

The book that this movie is based was one of the biggest best-sellers of the 1960's by the author of "The Great Imposter" (also adapted into a movie starring Tony Curtis). The book was hailed by one critic as giving a sense hope in a crazy world. And that's what this story is about, a kind of modern David and Golliath. Or maybe the town-drunkard-turned-mayor versus Nazi Germany.

The village of Santa Vittoria is no Rome. It's just a small town in Italy where the townspeople live very simple lives. They would be almost destitute except for one small commodity they all share: the town makes and exports wonderful wine to all parts of the world. They may not make as much as Mondavi, but it's a good living. Now, it's War World II, and the Germans have infiltrated the town. Not because they love the small-town folk of Santa Vittoria and want to protect them. They want their world-famous wine to help finance the war. But of course, the townspeople are dependent upon the wine for their livelihoods. So Anthony Quinn, perfectly cast as the town drunkard who ends up mayor, comes up with a plan. They give the Germans some of the wine and insist that they have given all the town possesses.

Hardy Kruger as the German officer in charge of the operation is unconvinced. They seemed too happy and too willing to give up their wine. He knows the townspeople are hiding more wine, and he will use all means at his disposal to retrieve every last bottle. The cat and mouse game is on! Can a bunch of simple-folk led by their clownish mayor in rural Italy outwit the likes of the German army? I vastly underrated movie that is mostly hilarious from beginning until end. There are a couple of references to torture but mostly it is quite a fun plot. Will Anthony Quinn and the town through sheer determination wear down the stubbornness of Hardy Kruger and the Germans, who seem absolutely relentless in their conviction that more wine exists? And now out on DVD!

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I missed the first half hour on Turner last night, but tuned in and was thoroughly entertained. This is top notch Anthony Quinn- he is terrific, and the entire cast is excellent. Looking forward to seeing the entire film now. Unlike another reviewer, I loved his over-the-top reaction to the German Captain's telling him he wanted the village's wine. Hardy Kruger, as the captain, gives a nuanced performance that adds a great deal to the film.

One of the great joys of this movie is the Italian location and extras. The economics of contemporary movie making rarely allow for true location shooting anymore, and its too bad. As these films from the 60s and 70s age, they become increasingly valuable as an historical record.

This movie also has a wonderful heart- it's a celebration of what makes life worth living. Highly recommended.

The film is set in Italy and begins just after the Italians surrender to the Allies during WWII. At first, the town is ecstatic--they are free and the fascists leaders quickly surrender the town to a man they designate the new mayor, Bombolini (Anthony Quinn). Bombolini seems ill-prepared, however, when the town learns that the Germans are coming--and will be occupying the town. However, a bright young man (Giancarlo Giannini) comes up with a great idea--to put all the town's wine in the Roman tunnels and then collapse the tunnels. That way, the Germans won't be able to steal the town's best resource. First, they need to move 1,000,000 bottles very quickly. Second, Bombolini needs to play nice to the German commander (Hardy Kruger) while also keeping the secret. Third, Bombolini needs to keep his nasty harpy of a wife (Anna Magnani) in line--and that might just be the most difficult task of all!

So is the film any good? Of course. With Anthony Quinn in the lead, the film is naturally quite good--as he seems a natural. He is also ably assisted by a nice supporting cast and nice location shooting. However, the film is a bit odd. The first half was rather comical and light in mood. The final portion, with the Nazis, was very dark--and it drug a bit in tempo compared to the first part. Not a perfect film but a very good one.

Recently, I have had a chance to see Stanley Kramer's film on the big screen as a part of movie theater shows commemorating Anthony Quinn's 100 birth anniversary. The versatile and extremely talented actor as he was leads the expectation to keep at the very high level. And hardly ever are you, as a viewer, disappointed with the poignant portrayal of the leading character. However, THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA clearly appears to be not merely an Anthony Quinn movie.

As a matter of fact, the storyline itself does not raise much enthusiasm and does not offer so much as to make for a film that can really stand a test of time. Although it is set in the idyllic little town somewhere in the middle of the Italian peninsula and filmed primarily in such renowned surroundings as Viterbo or Tivoli, that is not where its power lies. Thoough the views are terrific. Nor does it in the direction by a renowned (at the time) but also controversial director Stanely Kramer. The movie's major strength lies in its 'characters' no matter if they are portrayed by greatest stars of the time (indeed, it is not short of them) or simple extras, the innumerable citizens of the town of Santa Vittoria, Bosley Crowther, the New York Times reviewer called a "picturesque familiar lot." The center of their town is a square (naturally) and a fountain with no saint but...a cute turtle, a silent observer of making history.

In the character of the protagonist, Vittorio Bombolini, played magnificently by ANTHONY QUINN, you can easily recognize a variety of features that make him, on the one hand, one of the most 'ridiculous' mayors of a town like this and, on the other hand, one of the most appealing and likable fellows, one from his community, who 'smells his people.' He beautifully combines humor, parody even, responsibility, sentiment, compassion. After the propaganda of "Mussolini is always right" the new times for Santa Vittoria come..."Bombolini is always right." Corso Mussolini turns into Corso Bombolini and his people, except for his closest family (above all his wife Rosa) seem to like him. He forms a government of a very unique quality, something to laugh at...perhaps, but something to take for granted. They are all far from being sort of 'bookworms' or very learned in the statutes and law. However, his diplomatic mission will face a very hard dilemma of saving their greatest treasure, the local wine from the German occupying force. Anthony Quinn's moments prove sheer brilliance of performance and are all high worth seeing.

ANNA MAGNANI as his wife Rosa delivers a tremendously emotional performance as a wife, as a mother, hardly a 'public persona.' The great amount of humanity that she puts to the role results in pure enjoyment of seeing her on the screen. Sometimes too brutal to her husband, sometimes furious, sometimes shedding a tear of two, she is never pale, a very vivid character that has not lost any of her power after the years.

Quite a contrast to her 'neurotic' character appears to be La Contessa, Caterina played by an underrated Italian actress VIRNA LISI. She is a classical woman of inner struggle tormented by the choice of love. Is there any choice when she goes with the German (Hardy Krueger)? Clearly in love with Tufa (Sergio Franchi) whom she first nurses with the wounds of the war, she represents the positive aspect of aristocracy. Particularly appealing when working with the people when one passes to another...bottles of wine.

A very interesting couple and a backdrop love story are Angela (Patrizia Valturri) and Fabio (Giancarlo Giannini). Two young people quite underrated in the town (consider Fabio bringing news to the town and the ignorance he meets). Their love affair is both serious and hilarious, something of a classical drama. Shocked parents end up taking part in the wedding of their 'beloved child' they have always aimed at protecting...

SOME MOMENTS OF EXCEPTIONAL NOTE: The scene of passing the wine is, perhaps, too long but as it constitutes the crucial aspect of the plot, it remains most memorable. The almost 'acrophobic' moment of erasing the slogan "Mussolini is always right" highlights the irony of historic changes. The finale, being simultaneously dramatic, comedic and uplifting still makes viewers absorbed in every little move and helps leave the cinema with a smile and satisfaction of having seen something valuable.

It occurs, with the passing of years, that THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA is a movie like no other movie. Yes, like Cinzano wine, a wine like no other wine! This movie-wine relation is inseparable: the older, the better!