Summary: Documentary commemorating the fall of Monte Cassino.
Description: Introductory sequences describe briefly Cassino's history, its strategic location and perfect natural defences. General factors hindering the advance in Italy - climate, geography, Allied disagreement over priorities and failure to commit sufficient forces. The programme describes in some detail the successive actions fought around Anzio and Monte Cassino, using period film interspersed with modern interviews with participants. The destruction of the monastery is discussed: Harding justifies the bombing because it raised Allied morale and Davin shifts responsibility to the Germans who chose to defend the site. The narrator points out the futility of bombing the monastery, and later the town, and emphasises the limitations imposed on mechanised transport and armour, comparing the fighting to the trench warfare of 1914. Allied commentators express admiration for the German paratroopers. A 'gentleman's war'. (General Oster). The role of the Polish Corps is described, but the 'major' contribution to the final breakthrough is attributed to the Free French forces. General Clark's command is criticised - first for the Rapido disaster and then for permitting the German armies to escape while pursuing personal glory as the "liberator of Rome". The Italian stalemate continues. Monte Cassino: a monument to the "terrible tragedy of war".
Alternative Title:
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:MGH 318
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:1969
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC Television (Production company)
Batty, Peter (Production individual)
Batty, Peter (Production individual)
Witcomb, Norman (Production individual)
Kenny, Ernest (Production individual)
Hanks, Lou (Production individual)
Wentzell, Christopher (Production individual)
Bagnall, Charles (Production individual)
Trumm, Leonard (Production individual)
Batty, Peter (Production individual)
Archard, Bernard (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: Italy (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1856 ft; Running time: 52 mins
