The Pigeon That Took Rome

The Pigeon That Took Rome is an acquired taste. It's a quirky comedy with sarcasm dripping thickly in the narration adjoining the scenes. Charlton Heston is in the lead, and while it feels a little awkward to see him in a comedy, since it's a dark, offbeat comedy, it makes more sense. Set in Italy during WWII, it focuses on the antiquated system of carrier pigeons. There are misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mistaken identities - all with the pigeons. I'm not kidding.

In addition to the pigeons, there are the group of American soldiers stationed in Italy who act alongside them. Charlton Heston has a reputation of being disliked among his men, but since he gets the job done, Brian Donlevy puts him in charge. Do you think falling in love with an Italian woman, Elsa Martinelli, will soften his heart? It'll take quite a lot of softening, since he's reprimanded his fellow soldiers for similar dalliances - or as he phrases it, "going nuts over a piece of Italian pizza at a time like this."

When his friend tries to convince him of the virtues of settling down to a wife and kiddies, Chuck scoffs. "Why is everyone supposed to like children? How many kids do you think there'd be in the world if they weren't connected with sex?" I know; you'll have to hear it to believe Charlton Heston actually said that line. I was shocked, too. I laughed a few times during this movie, but it's not one I'll want to watch again. It's tough to get political satire right, but this movie certainly tries.

DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. About 20 minutes before the end, when Arthur Shields is seen through the window, he's upside down and the camera swivels to make him right side up again, and that will make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

I also consider this a sleeper. Found it humorous, well played and well written. Heston as serious soldier on off beat mission. Ilsa Martinelli (far from plains of Africa) as love interest, but not so lovely as big chested actress who plays her sister. Harry Guardino in yet another GI role. Barry Fitzgerald even more typecast as Irish priest. Good character actors for kid and bumptious dad. Great bit by Randolph Anders as Werhmacht Oberst. Worth looking for. Couldn't help comparing this "war" movie with Band of Brothers.

There are certain actors who should not do comedy and Charlton Heston was one of them. His no nonsense granite personality of integrity was out of place in a film like The Pigeon That Took Rome. The part looks like it was written for Rock Hudson.

Heston does his best however as an infantry officer who together with an Italian speaking sergeant Harry Guardino is sent days before the Allied liberation of Rome into the Eternal City. The cautious Allies want to find out if Hitler really means to evacuate and leave it an open city or will he fight for it.

A prime mover in the underground is Monsignor Arthur Shields at the Vatican playing a character based on the one that was the central figure in the later film The Scarlet and the Black that starred Gregory Peck. He gets Heston and Guardino, disguised as priests, into the home of Salvatore Baccaloni with daughters Elsa Martinelli and Gabriella Pallotta and their little brother Marietto.

That family has its own problems, Pallotta is pregnant via another American who was a flier later killed by the Nazis. She's got to get married and quick and sizes up Guardino as a likely prospect.

With Nazi communication detection techniques Heston is forced to use those old reliable carrier pigeons. But when Baccaloni plans a feast for the daughter he uses those same pigeons that could signal the Allied advance into Rome as disguised quail. What to do?

The only time Heston ever successfully essayed comedy was in the Private War Of Major Benson in which his stern countenance was played against by the kids of the military school and his lady interest Julia Adams. It doesn't work in The Pigeon That Took Rome and a lot of potentially funny stuff just falls flat.

Chuck's next visit to Rome was The Agony And The Ecstacy. He was a much better Michaelangelo than a spy.

In 1944, two American spies (Charlton Heston , Harry Guardino) , disguising as priests , infiltrate German occupied Rome to relay information to HQ but can only communicate via pigeons due to the imposed radio silence . Set behind enemy lines , in order to communicate German movements to the Allies they use pigeons to send messages to an Allied general (Brian Donlevy) , while romancing local girls (Elsa Martinelli, Gabriella Pallotta) where they are based. Things go wrong when the family dad accidentally feeds the pigeons to his family for Easter Dinner. At Last! A Motion Picture That Delivers Fun!."Ben-Hur" Caught without His Chariot! .Fly - don't walk - to enjoy the brightest comedy idea since the invention of two sexes!.It's scandalous! It's spicy! And it has the year's sauciest cast. He is a military-type pigeon, now a sitting duck. He came to make war - and she threw in the towel!.This is a wolf who said "No more love in a pigeon coop."

WW2 light comedy of Charlton Heston as a spy captain , while he grows more and more in love with the daughter of the family he stays with , well played by beautiful Elsa Martinelli . The picture is pretty entertaining and amusing , the film contains funny scenes , a brief intrigue about Nazis , partisans and spies by using carrier pigeons fitted with messages and various chuckles with lots of fun . Humanity and humor are high in the priorities of the director Shavelson who shows a considerable talent recapturing enjoyable situations . Cast is frankly good , the always great Heston , ¨Chuck¨, Harry Guardino , two gorgeous latin girls : Gabriella Pallotta , Elsa Martinelli , the veteran Brian Donlevy , Rudolph Anders as the typical Nazi , Arthur Shields , among others . Special mention for the unknown actor Salvatore Baccaloni at his last film playing a very kind and sympathetic daddy.

This agreeable movie is really marred by a worn-out photography due to film copy is tarnished and lousy , being extremely necessary a perfect remastering . In fact , there are lots of Roman sightseeing , spectacularly photographed by cameraman Daniel L. Fapp . The motion picture was professionally written and directed by Melville Shavelson but it results to be a minor vehicle for the great Heston. Shavelson's movies have a special penchant for recapturing a particular atmosphere , many of this films are about real people but they remain muted in impact . A notorious screenwriter , Bob Hope -whom Shavelson had originally wanted for the lead- and Danny Kaye features Shavelson's pictures when he became filmmaker and his films with them are the most successful such as ¨The seven tittle Foys¨ , Beau James¨, ¨On the Double¨ and ¨Five pennies¨ . Shavelson's later pictures were made for TV and mostly biographies as ¨The great Houdini¨ , ¨Ike¨, ¨Ike : the war years¨, and ¨The legend of Valentino¨ which remains the best work on the subject to date . Two of the best films turned out to be ¨¨Cast a giant shadow¨ , an epic movie with all-star-cast dealing with the birth of Israel and ¨Yours , mine and ours¨ his biggest hit . Rating : 6/10. The flick will appeal to Charlton Heston fans.

Imagine Heston in role with elaborate costuming and playing second fiddle to one of the greatest upstagers of all time! The amazing thing is old Charlton even looks like he's having a good time. So, who's the guy continually pushing Moses Ben Hur out every scene they share? None other than the great basso from the Met, Salvatore Baccaloni. Now, you should know that Sal had a bad rep at the Met for being a bit of a joker and hard to work with, but the crew loved him. In this film, where Heston and Harry Guardino in his pre-TV days play two GIs in WW2 spying on the Germans, they have to inform the allies as to the morale and preparedness of the Germans. So, how are these two intrepids getting the word back to the Allies? Homing pigeons. No sweat...but, a problemo. The pigeons get eaten by Baccaloni's family for a festa and Sal, not wanting to get into trouble steals some pigeons from...the Germans to replace the ones his family ate. So, when the Germans start reading the messages, they suspect that ... well, it goes on from there. This film is an enjoyable comedy and gave Heston a relief from all those costume roles. Sadly, it was Baccaloni's last film, although he died 7 years later. No video, no DVD. Watch for it on the late show.