“Battle For Cassino” Strong Documentary

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32301, 20 May 1970, Page 3

“Battle For Cassino” Strong Documentary

Opinions on the necessity for and the conduct of the Battle of Cassino are probably as diverse today as the nationalities which took part in this major event of the Italian campaign. But Monday night’s documentary, “Battle for Cassino,” was a reminder of just how grim and costly a battle it was: and bn that everyone would agree.

It was screened on the twenty-sixth anniversary of the end of a battle which

cost 20.000 lives and in which 100.000 were wounded. Even when Brian Horrocks is in charge, documentaries on war are seldom pleasant, and the Cassino film was often horrifying. But it was a good documentary. There was a lucid explanation of the impor-j tance of Monte Cassino to; the allied campaign, the differences between the; Americans and British over! the conduct of the campaign! were recalled, and the costly dependence of the Cassino and Anzio battles, each on the other, was brought home. The battle scenes were stark and horrible: much of the documentary consisted of the troops in action. No doubt there is merit in recalling these dark days,! and others, to a new generation. The monastery at Cassino stood, as the com-l mentator said, as a memorial to the terrible tragedy ofl war. ' The rest of Monday evening’s viewing was of much less consequence. “Letters From the Dead” went its rather dreary way through further killings to a feeble finale. Surely something better than this can be provided for the many who like a taut thriller? Carol Burnett’s evenings are over. In the final programme, Ethel Merman was not a success as the principal guest, but Tim Conway was fun, even if the dental sketch was too much for the principals in it. We will miss Carol Burnett, who can be as funny! as anyone we have seen; and 1 we hope it is not too long l before that expressive face is' brought back to us.—PANDORA.