Il Generale della Rovere (1959) (Blu-ray Review)
Directed By: Roberto Rossellini
Starring: Vittorio De Sica, Hannes Messemer, Anne Vernon
Rated: UR/Region A/1:33/1080p/Number of Discs 1
Available from Raro Video USA
In a magnetic performance, Academy Award nominee Vittorio De Sica (A Farewell to Arms) is Bardone, an opportunistic rascal in wartime Genoa, conning and cheating his fellow Italians, exploiting their tragedies by promising to help find their missing loved ones in exchange for money. But when the Nazis force him to impersonate a dead partisan general in prison to extract information from fellow inmates, Bardone finds himself wrestling with his conscience for the first time. Roberto Rossellini s gripping drama, among his most commercially popular films, is further evidence of the compassionate artistry of one cinema’s most important voices.
This old school Italian film was once in the ranks of the Criterion Collection, but has now found a home on Blu-ray from Raro Video. As you might guess from the history of this film and it’s in well company release history, the film is a very well made film that tells a very mature story. The movie is of course dated, but I still think many of you will be able to appreciate the real nature and human side of a film like that. A film that is headed up by a man who normally played comedic roles, but struts his stuff in this serious toned film.
I the film we see a sometimes torn character named Emanuele Bardone do his thing in War-torn Germany. The film deals a great deal with morality and as a result you can tell that our director here was trying to make a statement. I think his statement is made well enough, but at the same time this isn’t a film that will appeal to the masses regardless. This just won’t be everyone’s type of film with it’s nature, tone, and subject matter. But, it should really strike a cord with a certain type. The film it self looks very good overall. The picture is no longer cropped like the other release. There is very little film damage here and it looks clear and crysp.
– Il Generale Della Rovere: Theatrical Version (SD)
– The Truth of Fiction: A Visual Essay by Adriano Aprà
– Interview with Renzo Rossellini Jr.
– Interview with Adriano Aprà
– Interview with Aldo Strappini
– Original Trailer
