The Assisi Underground is a 1985 American-Italian film made for television, written and directed by Alexander Ramati. It is an adaptation of his 1978 novel, The Assisi Underground: The Priest who Rescued Jews, which is based on a true-life account by Father Rufino Niccacci of events surrounding the Assisi Network, an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of Assisi, Italy during World War II. The film stars Ben Cross, Irene Papas, Maximilian Schell, Karlheinz Hackl, and James Mason in his final performance before his death in July 1984. His final role in a feature film was The Shooting Party.
| The Assisi Underground | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Alexander Ramati |
| Written by | Alexander Ramati |
| Screenplay by | Alexander Ramati |
| Based on | The Assisi Underground by Alexander Ramati |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Giuseppe Rotunno |
| Edited by | Michael J. Duthie |
| Music by | Dov Seltzer |
Production company | |
Release date |
|
Running time | 115 min |
| Countries | United States, Italy |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
In 1943 Franciscan priest Rufino Niccacci is asked by the bishop of Assisi Giuseppe Placido Nicolini to covertly rescue Italian Jews from the Nazis.
Cast edit
- Ben Cross as Rufino Niccacci
- James Mason as Monsignor Giuseppe Placido Nicolini, Bishop of Assisi
- Irene Papas as Mother Giuseppina
- Maximilian Schell as Colonel Valentin Müller
- Karlheinz Hackl as Captain von Velden
- Geoffrey Copleston as Chief of Police Bertolucci
- Riccardo Cucciolla as Luigi Brizi
- Angelo Infanti as Giorgio Kropf
- Delia Boccardo as Countess Cristina
- Paolo Malco as Paolo Josza
- Roberto Bisacco as Professor Rieti
- Edmund Purdom as Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa
- Venantino Venantini as Pietro
- Maurice Poli as Vito
- Giancarlo Prete as Col. Gay
- Alessandra Mussolini as Sister Beata
- Riccardo Salvino as Otto Maionica
- Greta Vayan as Rita Maionica
- Alfredo Pea as Gino Bartali[1]
Critical response edit
History edit
In 1998, The New York Times published an article about an Assisi resident who had come there as a refugee.[4]
On October 5, 2012, The National Catholic Register published a long two-part article pegged to the opening of a new exhibition based on 25 years of research into the city's role in saving thousands of refugees, including approximately 300 Jews.[5][6]
References edit
- ^ "The Assisi Underground". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ Tatum, Charles. "The Assisi Underground". eFilmCritic. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
- ^ Paolo Mereghetti, Il Mereghetti. Dizionario dei Film 2008, Baldini Castoldi Dalai, 2007.
- ^ Meier, Barry (1998-11-27). "In Assisi, a Survivor Recalls Rescue From the Holocaust". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "Following Francis' Footsteps: How Assisi Protected Jews During World War II, Part I". NCR. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
- ^ "Following Francis' Footsteps: How Assisi Protected Jews During World War II, Part II". NCR. Retrieved 2022-10-03.
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