During the Second World War, an American unit is sent to take control of a small Italian village before the advancing German army can reach it. The mission proves less straightforward than expected when the Italian troops stationed there offer to surrender on one condition: that the village's annual wine festival go ahead first. A lieutenant argues that accepting the arrangement is the practical course, since aircraft overhead will report fighting regardless of what actually happens on the ground. The plan requires the Americans and Italians to stage the appearance of combat for the benefit of reconnaissance, and an intelligence officer is dispatched to check on the situation, while the mayor's daughter becomes entangled in the proceedings.
Blake Edwards directed and produced the film, his eighth of twenty-seven features in chronological order, following The Great Race and preceding The Party. William Peter Blatty wrote the screenplay, and the cast is led by James Coburn as Lieutenant Christian, Dick Shawn as Captain Lionel Cash, Sergio Fantoni as Captain Oppo, Aldo Ray, Giovanna Ralli and Harry Morgan. Released in August 1966, it runs 116 minutes and was made by United Artists and The Mirisch Company on a budget of about 7 million dollars.
On IMDb the film holds a rating of 6.6 from roughly 2,400 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 5.9 from a much smaller base of 49 votes.
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