Bitka na Neretvi (The Battle of Neretva) (Croatian Release) (DVD 1969)

DESCRIPTION: In January 1943 German army, afraid of Allied invasion of Balkans, launched great offensive against Yugoslav Partisans in Western Bosnia. The only way out for Partisan forces and thousands of refugees was the bridge on the river Neretva.

This film is not exception - it's one of the biggest Yugoslavian projects made with dream team - most famous and appreciated actors and actresses, respected director and episode roles of famous international stars - Yul Brynner and Orson Wells.

These battle scenes are the real stars of the show. They involve thousands of extras, dozens of T-34, Tiger and Sherman tank, German fighter planes, huge explosions and stunt horses which get blown in every direction. Bulajic uses wide shots quite often to show just how massive the combat zone is. Battles take place in green valleys, narrow streets and in the snow-covered mountains, and we can see just hazardous and realistic this scenery is. The Yugoslav landscape has never been so beautifully photographed, and the destruction amidst this beauty is quite sad and often depressing. The final scene, in which several of the main characters are killed (ironically enough, the battle takes place amidst an old cemetery) is epic in scope, with thousands of Chetnik horsemen being gunned down and shelled in a valley, but the personal sacrifice of the partisans is felt at the same time. Bernard Hermann's score is appropriately thunderous at times and also has meaningful, mournful cues. (This music was written exclusively for the edited international versions; the original, equally fantastic Klaus Vladimir Ratjeric score retained on longer prints and used only to aid the dramatic scenes).

This is truly a great epic story, with strong character development interwoven with necessary spectacle. Even on home video in the United States, it's a good movie, and simply improves with each longer cut. "The Battle of Neretva" is simple one of the great lost films of the 20th Century.

REGION: 2 (PAL-EUROPA)

ACTORS: Yul Brunner, Hardy Kruger, Franco Nero, Orson Welles, Curd Jurgens, Milena Dravić, Sergei Bondarchuk, Ljubiša Samardžić, Boris Dvornik, Sylva Koscina, Velimir Bata Živojinović, Oleg Vidov, Anthony Dawson, Vasa Pantelić, Stole Aranđelović, Špela Rozin, Pavle Vujisić, Kole Angelovski, Miha Baloh, Faruk Begoli, Dragomir Felba, Fabijan Šovagović...

LANGUAGE: Serbian, German, Italian

SUBTITLES: Serbian (Only where Germans and Italians speak)

RUNNING TIME: 163. Min.

Extras: Interview with Veljko Bulajic, Biography, Filmography

Filmography: Anthony Dawnson,Franco Nero,Howard Ross,Yul Briner, Hardy Kruger, Orson Welles, Sergeo Bondarchuk, Bata Zivojinovic, Boris Dvornik,Sylva Koscina,Milena Dravic,Ljubisa Samardzic,Lojze Rozman…

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