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Massacre in Rome

Original title: Rappresaglia
  • 1973
  • PG
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Richard Burton and Marcello Mastroianni in Massacre in Rome (1973)
MASSACRE IN ROME depicts one of the worst atrocities of the War which took place in Nazi occupied Rome sparking a searing political outrage: did the Vatican, then led by Pope Pius XII (referred to by some as “Hitler's Pope”), kowtow to Nazism? After Italian Partisans killed 33 German soldiers by exploding a roadside bomb, Hitler ordered the immediate execution of 10 Roman citizens for each dead soldier. When the Vatican withdrew from the matter, a deadly confrontation ensued between a priest, (Mastroianni) and a Nazi Officer Kappler (Burton at his best) who had been ordered to administer what would become one of the most heinous war crimes: the massacre of 335 civilians. Director Cosmatos and writer Robert Katz crank up the tension in this nerve-wracking dramatisation of Katz’s own, highly contentious, 1967 best-seller “Death in Rome” in which he blamed Pope Pius XII for the massacre; and for which the author was sued, upon the film’s release, by the Pope’s heirs and sentenced to jail. The controversy continues to date as the present Pope, Benedict, has just declared Pius XII “venerable” - the first step towards Sainthood. Argent Films presents THE MOST COMPLETE EVER VERSION, NOW 4 MIN LONGER, RESTORED TO ITS SUMPTUOUS ORIGINAL WIDESCREEN FORMAT.
Play trailer1:23
1 Video
71 Photos
ItalianDramaHistoryWar

Rome, March 23, 1944: 33 German soldiers are killed by a bomb. Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler is ordered to execute ten times that many Italians.Rome, March 23, 1944: 33 German soldiers are killed by a bomb. Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler is ordered to execute ten times that many Italians.Rome, March 23, 1944: 33 German soldiers are killed by a bomb. Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler is ordered to execute ten times that many Italians.

  • Director
    • George P. Cosmatos
  • Writers
    • Robert Katz
    • George P. Cosmatos
    • Lucio De Caro
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Marcello Mastroianni
    • Leo McKern
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    1.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • George P. Cosmatos
    • Writers
      • Robert Katz
      • George P. Cosmatos
      • Lucio De Caro
    • Stars
      • Richard Burton
      • Marcello Mastroianni
      • Leo McKern
    • 28User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Massacre In Rome
    Trailer 1:23
    Massacre In Rome

    Photos71

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    Top Cast40

    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Lt. Col. Herbert Kappler
    Marcello Mastroianni
    Marcello Mastroianni
    • Father Pietro Antonelli
    Leo McKern
    Leo McKern
    • Gen. Kurt Maelzer
    John Steiner
    John Steiner
    • Col. Dollmann
    Anthony Steel
    Anthony Steel
    • Maj. Domizlaf
    Robert Harris
    Robert Harris
    • Father Pancrazio
    Peter Vaughan
    Peter Vaughan
    • Gen. Albert Kesselring
    Renzo Montagnani
    Renzo Montagnani
    • Questore Pietro Caruso
    Giancarlo Prete
    Giancarlo Prete
    • Paolo
    Renzo Palmer
    Renzo Palmer
    • Giorgio
    Duilio Del Prete
    Duilio Del Prete
    • Partisan
    Dennis Burgess
    • Maj. Dobbrick
    Brook Williams
    • Capt. Priebke
    Guidarino Guidi
    • Guido Buffarini-Guidi
    Douglas Hare
    • Young German Soldier
    Carlos de Carvalho
      Jacques Herlin
      Jacques Herlin
      • Giovanni
      Shirley Corrigan
      Shirley Corrigan
      • Director
        • George P. Cosmatos
      • Writers
        • Robert Katz
        • George P. Cosmatos
        • Lucio De Caro
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      User reviews28

      6.51.7K
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      Summary

      Reviewers say 'Massacre in Rome' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

      Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
      Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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      Related interests

      Lamberto Maggiorani in Bicycle Thieves (1948)
      Italian
      Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
      Drama
      Liam Neeson in Schindler's List (1993)
      History
      Band of Brothers (2001)
      War

      Storyline

      Did you know

      • Trivia
        Filmed in the winter of 1972-73, the film had a limited release in the summer of 1975.
      • Goofs
        All of the SS officers in Kappler's Security Police headquarters are shown to be wearing the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, which was a high level decoration for valor and heroism in combat. It would have been highly unusual for so many security officers to have this award, since the Security Police dealt with "behind the lines" actions and not front line combat.
      • Quotes
        • Father Pietro Antonelli: I would prefer a world that didn't need protecting.
        • Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler: And I would prefer a religion that didn't need priests.
      • Connections
        Referenced in Escape to Athena: Cast and Crew Interviews (1978)

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      Details

      • Release date
        • October 24, 1973 (United States)
      • Countries of origin
        • Italy
        • France
      • Languages
        • Italian
        • English
      • Also known as
        • Das Massaker - Der Fall Kappler
      • Filming locations
        • Villa Parisi, Monte Porzio Catone, Roma, Lazio, Italy
      • Production companies
        • Surf Film
        • Compagnia Cinematografica Champion
        • Fiduciary
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Tech specs

      • Runtime
        • 1h 50m(110 min)
      • Sound mix
        • Mono
      • Aspect ratio
        • 1.66 : 1

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