Two Colonels

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• 1963
• 1 hr 30 mins
• Comedy

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The story is of Italian and British troops facing off on the Greek-Albanian border in 1943. The Italian army is commanded by Col. Di Maggio (Totò), the British army by Col. Henderson (Walter Pidgeon). Both sides take, lose, and retake a border village countless times during the entire movie. The village is taken and retaken by both sides so many times that the locals do not even pay attention to the battles anymore and openly collaborate with whichever side is occupying the village at that time. Both sides use the same hotel as their HQ, and a friendship and mutual respect even develop between the two opposing commanding officers. This goes on until the Germans arrive and order the Italian commander Di Maggio to destroy the village, killing its inhabitants, an order the Italian commander refuses to carry out, bringing on a death sentence. His men refuse the German officer's order to fire at Col. Di Maggio, and throw down their rifles. They are also condemned to death. As they stand in front of the Nazis, the British recapture the village just in time to save the Italians, and all rejoice at the news that Italy has just asked for an armistice.