It is an asymmetrical system of rank and organization, implying a reciprocal relationship of supremacy and subordination, similar to a pyramid. The film mocks the rigor of the army and the absurdity of its rules, successfully satirizing war and military hierarchy. The protagonist is a rebel, intolerant of discipline, who becomes a hero precisely because of his irreverence. He is a lazy, listless, and cynical antihero, forced by his mission (and by love) to grow and prove his worth.
During World War II, Private Harry Frigg (Paul Newman) is sent to Italy by General Prentiss (James Gregory) to organize the escape of several generals from the villa of Countess Francesca di Montefiore (Sylvia Koscina). The prison is organized in a reception-style manner by Colonel Ferrucci (Vito Scotti), a former hotel manager, but things change after the armistice, which transfers command to Major von Steignitz (Werner Peters) of the German army, which has transformed overnight from ally to occupier.
Director Jack Smight (6.5) films a typical 1960s Hollywood comedy, with light-hearted tones and the right balance of comic and adventurous moments; the screenplay (6.5) has a fluid pace, avoiding dramatic excesses, preferring to focus on the narrative; from a technical standpoint (6.0), the highlights are Russell Metty's cinematography with its vivid colors, the Italian (filmed in California) production design rendered with pictorial taste, and Michel Legrand's light-hearted, melodic score; among the cast (6.5), Newman, with his charisma and wit, tries to make up for his age, which is inappropriate for his character, while Koscina brings the right elegance and sensuality to her character.
Best moment: Harry tells the Germans he's not a real general, so they can loosen their controls and return that night to organize the escape, but his courage and determination are worth more than two stars. A must-see for those who love light-hearted, ironic wartime comedies.
