Watch The Biggest Battle
- TV-PG
- 1978
- 1 hr 42 min
-
4.7 (605)
The Biggest Battle is a war movie set during World War II that was released in 1978. Directed by Umberto Lenzi, the film features an ensemble cast including Helmut Berger, Samantha Eggar, and Giuliano Gemma. At the heart of the movie is the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy in 1944. The battle was one of the toughest fought during the war and took place over four months. Allied forces - which mostly involved British, American, and Polish troops - faced off against the German army. The battle occurred due to the Allies' desire to break a crucial German defensive line in Italy and clear the way for their advance towards Rome.
The film uses the Battle of Monte Cassino as the backdrop for the story of a German soldier named Oberleutnant Buchner (Helmut Berger) who is tasked with leading a group of soldiers against the Allied forces. Notably, Buchner is not portrayed as an outright villain but rather as a conflicted character who is struggling to reconcile his moral compass with his duty to his country.
We also see the point of view of an American officer named Captain Douglas (Stacy Keach), who is tasked with leading a group of soldiers into battle against the Germans. Douglas is an experienced officer who has seen the horror of war before and is determined to see the mission through and bring his men home safely. In addition to these two main characters, there are a host of other roles that add depth and complexity to the overall story.
The film effectively depicts the horrors of war, including the physical destruction of the battlefield, the emotional toll on the soldiers, and the complex emotions of those who are fighting. The depiction of the Battle of Monte Cassino is particularly impressive, with stunning and realistic visuals that convey the intensity of the fighting.
The Biggest Battle also manages to convey a sense of realism with its portrayal of the soldiers. Rather than simply presenting them as heroic figures, the movie delves into the human side of war and the psychological toll that it can take on people. This is particularly evident in the portrayal of Buchner, who is shown grappling with the morality of his actions and the senseless loss of life that he is causing.
Overall, The Biggest Battle is a gripping and intense war film that effectively captures the complexities of the human experience during wartime. With its talented cast and impressive visuals, it offers a visceral and thought-provoking portrayal of the Battle of Monte Cassino and the soldiers who fought in it.
The Biggest Battle is a 1978 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7.