The Pigeon That Took Rome
Encyclopedia
The Pigeon That Took Rome is a 1962 film
directed and written by Melville Shavelson
and starring Charlton Heston
. The film was based upon the novel "The Easter Dinner", written by Donald Downes.
) and Joseph Contini (Guardino
) are sent to Italy to act as spies for the Allies, even though they have no experience in espionage. Working with Partisan resistance soldier Ciccio Massimo (Baccaloni
), MacDougall and Contini send regular reports to their superiors by carrier pigeon. Contini also finds himself falling in love with Massimo's pregnant daughter Rosalba (Pallotta
), while her sister Antonella (Martinelli
) has her eye on MacDougall. Contini proposes to Rosalba, and Ciccio prepares a feast to celebrate his daughter's upcoming wedding. However, Ciccio prepares squab for the occasion, killing all but one of the carrier pigeons. Ciccio scrambles to replace them, but the new pigeons he finds are German, and they deliver MacDougall and Contini's messages directly into enemy hands.
Golden Globe Awards
Writers Guild of America
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
directed and written by Melville Shavelson
Melville Shavelson
Melville Shavelson was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He was President of the Writers Guild of America, West from 1969 to 1971, 1979 to 1981, and 1985 to 1987. He came to Hollywood in 1938 as one of comedian Bob Hope's joke writers, a job he held for the next...
and starring Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
. The film was based upon the novel "The Easter Dinner", written by Donald Downes.
Plot
In 1944, during the last stages of the war in Europe, American officers Paul MacDougall (HestonCharlton Heston
Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
) and Joseph Contini (Guardino
Harry Guardino
Harry Guardino was an American actor whose career spanned from the early 1950s to the early 1990s. In 1964, he was cast in a short-lived CBS series entitled The Reporter, a drama about a hard-hitting investigative journalist named Danny Taylor. His principal co-star was Gary Merrill as city...
) are sent to Italy to act as spies for the Allies, even though they have no experience in espionage. Working with Partisan resistance soldier Ciccio Massimo (Baccaloni
Salvatore Baccaloni
Salvatore Baccaloni was an Italian operatic bass, often regarded as the greatest buffo artist of the 20th century.- Life and career :Baccaloni was born in Rome...
), MacDougall and Contini send regular reports to their superiors by carrier pigeon. Contini also finds himself falling in love with Massimo's pregnant daughter Rosalba (Pallotta
Gabriella Pallotta
Gabriella Pallotta is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 22 films between 1956 and 1974. For the film The Pigeon That Took Rome she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress....
), while her sister Antonella (Martinelli
Elsa Martinelli
Elsa Martinelli is an Italian actress and former fashion model.Born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, she moved to Rome with her family and in 1953 was discovered by Roberto Capucci who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films...
) has her eye on MacDougall. Contini proposes to Rosalba, and Ciccio prepares a feast to celebrate his daughter's upcoming wedding. However, Ciccio prepares squab for the occasion, killing all but one of the carrier pigeons. Ciccio scrambles to replace them, but the new pigeons he finds are German, and they deliver MacDougall and Contini's messages directly into enemy hands.
Cast
- Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
- Captain Paul MacDougall, Benny the Snatch and Narrator - Elsa MartinelliElsa MartinelliElsa Martinelli is an Italian actress and former fashion model.Born Elisa Tia in Grosseto, Tuscany, she moved to Rome with her family and in 1953 was discovered by Roberto Capucci who introduced her to the world of fashion. She became a model and began playing small roles in films...
- Antonella Massimo - Harry GuardinoHarry GuardinoHarry Guardino was an American actor whose career spanned from the early 1950s to the early 1990s. In 1964, he was cast in a short-lived CBS series entitled The Reporter, a drama about a hard-hitting investigative journalist named Danny Taylor. His principal co-star was Gary Merrill as city...
- Sgt. Joseph Contini - Salvatore BaccaloniSalvatore BaccaloniSalvatore Baccaloni was an Italian operatic bass, often regarded as the greatest buffo artist of the 20th century.- Life and career :Baccaloni was born in Rome...
- Ciccio Massimo - Marietto - Livio Massimo
- Gabriella PallottaGabriella PallottaGabriella Pallotta is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 22 films between 1956 and 1974. For the film The Pigeon That Took Rome she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress....
- Rosalba Massimo - Brian DonlevyBrian DonlevyBrian Donlevy was an Irish-born American film actor, noted for playing tough guys from the 1930s to the 1960s. He usually appeared in supporting roles. Among his best known films are Beau Geste and The Great McGinty...
- Col. Sherman Harrington - Arthur ShieldsArthur ShieldsArthur Shields was an Irish stage and film actor.Born into an Irish Protestant family in Portobello, Dublin, he started acting in the Abbey Theatre when still a young man. He was the younger brother of Oscar-winning actor Barry Fitzgerald. An Irish nationalist, he fought in the Easter Rising of...
- Monsignor O'Toole - Rudolph AndersRudolph AndersRudolph Anders was a German character actor who came to the United States after the rise of Hitler, and appeared in numerous American films in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. During the 1940s, he used the stage name of Robert O. Davis...
- Col. Wilhelm Krafft - Vadim Wolkowsky - Conte Danesi
Awards and nominations
Academy AwardsAcademy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
- Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White (Hal PereiraHal PereiraHal Pereira was an American art director and production designer....
, Roland AndersonRoland AndersonRoland Anderson was an acclaimed movie art director, famous for receiving 15 Academy Award nominations but never winning an Oscar. Anderson's fist Oscar nomination was for his first film in 1933, "A Farewell to Arms". A frequent collaborator with Cecil B...
, Samuel M. ComerSamuel M. ComerSam Comer was a set decorator who worked on almost 300 films during a career spanning four decades. He won four Academy Awards and was nominated for another 22 in the category Best Art Direction...
, Frank R. McKelvyFrank R. McKelvyFrank R. McKelvy was an American set decorator. He was nominated for seven Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:...
) (nominated)
Golden Globe Awards
- Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy (Charlton HestonCharlton HestonCharlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...
, nominated) - Best Supporting Actor (Harry GuardinoHarry GuardinoHarry Guardino was an American actor whose career spanned from the early 1950s to the early 1990s. In 1964, he was cast in a short-lived CBS series entitled The Reporter, a drama about a hard-hitting investigative journalist named Danny Taylor. His principal co-star was Gary Merrill as city...
, nominated) - Best Supporting Actress (Gabriella PallottaGabriella PallottaGabriella Pallotta is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 22 films between 1956 and 1974. For the film The Pigeon That Took Rome she was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress....
, nominated)
Writers Guild of America
Writers Guild of America Awards 1962
The 15th Writers Guild of America Awards, given at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California, U.S. on 7 May 1963, honored the best writers of 1962.-Film:*Best Written American Comedy:**That Touch of Mink - Nate Monaster and Stanley Shapiro...
- Best Written American Comedy (Melville ShavelsonMelville ShavelsonMelville Shavelson was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. He was President of the Writers Guild of America, West from 1969 to 1971, 1979 to 1981, and 1985 to 1987. He came to Hollywood in 1938 as one of comedian Bob Hope's joke writers, a job he held for the next...
, nominated)