The Best of Enemies

Saw this film while stationed at a remote site in the military. As I remember, it was one of the few movies, at the time, that really made me laugh. It so resembled the nuttiness of everyday military life. It displays attitudes of peoples from different cultures required to depend upon each other for survival. It shows that war, itself, is a national problem while the average soldier is really not so different from his enemy. If this were on DVD, I would purchase it, in a heartbeat. The truths brought forward in this story are as meaningful today as when I saw it in 1962. Best yet, every member of the military audience viewing it, laughed until they rolled. It didn't matter what their political orientation, the humor was there for all to see. If a fan of "King of Hearts", I recommend it.

I saw this movie on TV years ago. Sadly I haven't seen it for at least five years, not even on cable. The story deals with the interplay between Italian and British units, mostly focusing on the commanding officers on each side. Sordi and Niven couldn't have been better in their roles. Against the backdrop of the African WW2 campaign the two sides seem to be more of a nuisance to each other than effective participants in the war, but towards the end of the movie we are given a reminder of the tendency to become egotistic as being a major world power involved in a campaign which totally ignores the native population in the country being fought over.This is a very appropriate touch to the movie. The two sides(Brits & Italians) were not the only game in town. I would love to see this movie out on video or DVD and would purchase it immediately.

It is so many years since i have seen this film because ??? you tell me why this film is not on DVD other than the younger generation would not want to see it, both main actors were splendid no matter if they were not "great actors" who are the great actors anyway it is mostly a matter of personal enjoyment anyway.of course i would buy it if it were on DVD,i am 60 years old it may be a "generation thing" and i can understand the need to make a profit to reproduce the film on DVD but why is it so difficult to show the film on TV.The mix of Italian and British humour is quite rare on film and as this movie works so well this is yet another reason for a showing on TV.I can get this film on VHS from Amazon for over £30 plus i no longer have a video recorder -but im thinking about it because i would so love to see this film again.

I saw this movie in Killeen, Texas just after I returned from Kagnew Station, an Army Base in, then, Ethiopia. I had visited Italian and English War Cemetaries in Asmara. The main battle took place near Keren.

The movie takes place some distance south of either city after the fall of Asmara. The scenery was accurate and must have been filmed in the proper area.

The interplay between the British and the Italians was quite accurate and enjoyable. An example of the situation presented was cited in Under the Red Sea Sun where the author found the Italian officers still carrying their sidearms in Asmara.

One of the most ironic scenes in the movie takes place when the mountain tops surrounding the group is dotted with 'shifta.' The 'shifta' were trained by the English to help overthrow the Italian rule, but became independent entrepreneurs, a la Jesse James, after the fall of Asmara.

It is nigh on impossible not to like this film. It is not a 'classic' comedy by any means but cannot fail to raise a smile or two. It is all down to the casting of course. David Niven is pitch-perfect as a none-too-competent Major and the always excellent Alberto Sordi is an obvious choice following his role in Risi's tragi-comedy 'Everybody go Home'. There is marvellous support from Harry Andrews, David Opatoshu and Michael Wilding. We also have Michael Trubshawe who was known as Niven's 'mascot' and indeed gave his name to the pilot officer played by Robert Coote in Niven's best film 'A Matter of Life and Death'. Director Guy Hamilton also has the aid of an infectious score by Nino Rota and cinematography by one of the best in the business, Giuseppe Rotunno. Quite a few had a hand in the script not least the prolific duo of Age-Scarpelli. Peter Ustinov once observed that 'the army is the final repository of the fool'. The characters in this film certainly do nothing to contradict that view! The highlight is a touching scene between Niven and Sordi in which they show each other photographs of their loved ones. Rather than depicting the cruelty of war, this film simply depicts its absurdity.