SimonJack "The Pigeon That Took Rome" is a very entertaining World War II film. Another reviewer stated that Charlton Heston doesn't do well in a comedy role. I think that's probably true, generally. But in this film, his character is perfect for the plot. This is a tongue- in-cheek comedy about World War II in Rome before the Allies have taken the city. Things weren't very funny to the Italians then – even though they are a people who tend to take things in stride and still see humor in difficult times. There's much more to this, but one must save some of the details that new viewers will enjoy more without foreknowledge. Heston's persona fits so well because of the very fact that he doesn't belong doing spy work or undercover work. He tells that to his CO when Col. Harrington sends him on his assignment. Heston protests that he is a line solder who fights and works best with the ranks in the field. So, when he gets to Rome through the Italian "resistance" he clearly doesn't fit in. And, that's part of the humor because he and Elsa Martinelli's character, Antonella Massimo, go at one another often. If that were all there was to this assignment, the film indeed would not be that funny. But, Harry Guardino is tossed into the pot as Sgt. Joseph Angelico, a GI who speaks Italian, and he's to help MacDougall. Guardino's character adds a light touch that mellows out the spats, and he provides for a nice romantic aspect of the film with Antonella's sister in the film, Rosalba, played by Gabriella Pallotta. All of the cast are excellent in this film. The head of the Massimo household and the Italian resistance is the widower father, Ciccio, played superbly by Salvatore Baccoloni. He was an opera singer as well as an occasional movie actor. Heston has a double role as Captain Paul MacDougall, and as Benny the Snatch, a fictitious member of his squad. Captain MacDougall is the Snatch. And, he also narrates the story – after the fact. His tongue-in-cheek is very funny at times. A hilarious scene to me is when he watches as the stolen pigeons (which, at the time, he didn't know were stolen), dutifully fly back home right to Nazi headquarters. MacDougall learns that the Allied homing pigeons had been the main course at the dinner to announce the engagement to the Massimo's extended family of daughter Rosalba to Sgt. Angelico. Well, all the pigeons but one, but MacDougall didn't know that Antonella had spared one for its carrier missions. So, with the new knowledge in hand, MacDougall sends a message poignantly intended for the Germans. And the German commander's reaction is very funny. Even funnier is that MacDougall and Angaelico watch as the last four pigeons are released and only three of them fly to Nazi headquarters. The other – the last true blue Allied pigeon that Antonella had spared (unbeknownst to MacDougall) flies south to the Allied lines. And the message intended for the Germans' eyes is such good news to the Allies that they press the attack and quickly push the Germans back and take Rome. This film is just good fun, even if the romance of the Heston and Martinelli characters at the end seems a bit contrived, considering how much and often they were at each other's throats through much of the film. As one other reviewer noted, its best just to disconnect one's brains and sit back to enjoy this film.

MartinHafer During WWII, two soldiers (Charlton Heston and Harry Guardino) are sent on a secret mission in Nazi-occupied Rome. However, the organized resistance they are told to make contact with doesn't really exist--it's just a couple pathetic souls. So, the two soldiers just hide out in the city--making note of the German forces and sending messages back to headquarters with homing pigeons. There's MUCH more to the film than this, but I don't want to give too much of the plot to you--in case you haven't seen it.While the above sketchy outline doesn't sound the least bit funny, the film is very much a tongue in cheek comedy. LOTS of complications develop as well as romance. The bottom line is that the film is a decent light comedy--the sort of thing they began making in the 60s and 70s--once memories of this god-awful war began to fade. A cute but slight story worth your time.By the way, the Irish priest (Arthur Shields) might well remind you of Barry Fitzgerald by his look and performance. Well, that's because despite the different stage names, Shields WAS Barry Fitzgerald's brother! Also, while a small role, I loved Rudolf Anders' performance later in the film. Seeing this German commander losing his mind was HIGHLY entertaining and his phone conversation was the best part of the film.

verbusen This is one odd bird of a movie. It's really a time capsule of war movies that were meant to be date war movies in the 60's. In the 30's to 60's the traditional date war movie had our heroes in training meeting their love interest and then going to war, this is the way real life often goes and it works if it's done right, although it's hard to find a balance. When you have both elements you can get a decent summer time date war movie that keeps both sexes interests involved. In the 60's these type of films were still made and still are to this day I suppose, but the 60's tried to tweak the date war movie by adding comedy along with the love interest and war combat. This one has little war drama, little love interest (mostly light hearted) and sad to say, little comedy (that works well), it was made for its target audience of the day, mid aged WW2 vets and their wives, and it was probably very well received. I will say that I did chuckle a couple of times so it's not a total loss and everyone seems to act well and it was regarded well in it's time to receive some notice from the Academy, these points and with Charlton Heston makes it worth watching for war movie buffs. We've seen just about everything else. You can catch it on TCM (USA) when they do their 31 days of Oscar run as they did Feb 2009. 5 of 10.

Robrt Powell (vigihawk) I also consider this a sleeper. Found it humorous, well played and well written. Heston as serious soldier on off beat mission. Ilsa Martinelli (far from plains of Africa) as love interest, but not so lovely as big chested actress who plays her sister. Harry Guardino in yet another GI role. Barry Fitzgerald even more typecast as Irish priest. Good character actors for kid and bumptious dad. Great bit by Randolph Anders as Werhmacht Oberst. Worth looking for. Couldn't help comparing this "war" movie with Band of Brothers.