The Best of Enemies Reviews

Witty, incisive look at the futility of war without being preachy. Niven and Wilding crash in the desert of Ethopia in 1941 while on an observation flight. They are taken in by Sordi, who leads an Italian patrol. Sordi allows them to go free when they promise to let his patrol roam freely and take refuge in an old fort. Later, Niven is ordered to attack that fort and does so with great annoyance, since it means breaking his word. The two men capture each other, and the rest of the film is a continuous barrage of jokes, witticisms, and fun. Sordi spoke almost no English when this movie was made and had to learn his English by rote. You'd never know it. Cribbins is very funny as Tanner. He went on to score well in many British movies as well as in the role of Nathan Detroit in the National Theatre's version of "Guys and Dolls." Cribbins is one of those rare actors who can do an American accent and make you believe it. If you'll notice, there is not a single female in the movie; a tribute to the writer, Pulman, who wisely felt that the overlay of any female roles would destroy the delicacy of the story. Pulman achieved his greatest worldwide fame when he adapted Robert Graves' I, Claudius for TV.