General Della Rovere (1959)

Mr. Bardone, played perfectly by Vittorio De Sica, is a man used to manipulating people. He lies and cons his way into a gambling problem that sees him desperately trying to collect money to perpetuate a lie that he is helping the families of those Italian soldiers captured by the Nazis. When he is found out, S.S. Colonel Mueller decides to use this selfish con man to his advantage. Bardone simply needs to pretend to be General Della Rovere and in prison help Mueller identify the leader of the resistance. This is one of the best Roberto Rossellini films I’ve seen. It’s a complex character study of a man trying to find the courage to be a better man than he has ever been. It gives us a Nazi Colonel that’s not some cartoon stereotype, but a believable human being. Bardone is a flawed man but he’s also a likeable one and that’s a testament to De Sica and a brilliant script. I found Bardone’s journey inspiring and the kind of story perfect to recommend. Grade: A