Anzio

A cynical war correspondent accompanies Allied troops during the amphibious landing at Anzio, intended to outflank German defenses south of Rome. Cautious command decisions allow German forces to reinforce, turning the operation into a prolonged and costly stalemate.

Operation Shingle landed Allied forces at Anzio in January 1944 to bypass the Gustav Line, but delayed advance from the beachhead allowed German forces under Kesselring to contain the landing for months, resulting in heavy casualties before the breakout toward Rome in May.

The film compresses the campaign's four-month timeline and takes dramatic license with command decisions and the correspondent character.

Four assaults over four months were needed to break the Gustav Line and open the road to Rome.

The historic abbey was destroyed by Allied bombing in February 1944; German paratroopers then occupied the ruins. Polish II Corps finally took the monastery hill in May as French colonial troops turned the line in the Aurunci mountains.

Directed by Edward Dmytryk

Cast: Robert Mitchum, Peter Falk, Robert Ryan, Arthur Kennedy

Positioned at 22 January – 25 May 1944 within the Italian campaign phase of the war, as part of the Battle of Anzio. This is entry 110 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Anzio
• Italian campaign
• amphibious landing
• stalemate
• Operation Shingle

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