The life of Mussolini

Press, 22 February 1980, Page 11

The life of Mussolini

“The Road To Glory.” tonight on TVI, is the first of a two-part documentary on the rise and fall of Italy’s Mussolini. Film was acquired from Mussolini’s own archives in Rome; much of it has never been shown outside Italy. The documentary, “Mussolini,” was produced, directed and written by David C. Rea, himself of Italian ancestry, whose grandparents settled in England to escape the chaos in which Italy had found itself. It took him seven years to persuade the Institute Luce to release its film. ' The programmes not only trace the story of the blacksmith’s son who became Italy’s dictator for 20 years, but also reflects the personal story of a remarkable man whose private life was in such contrast to his public image — a dictator with feet of clay who hid from the outside world his physical frailties of bad eyesight, baldness, a gastric ulcer, a weight problem — and a chronic ingrown toenail. Such was the pompous, arrogant, impressive II Duce. In the first part of this

documentary, Mussolini’s background is unfolded: his family, his turbulent school days, his wild ways, his hurried marriage. Mussolini’s early days as a journalist were followed by his soldiering in World War I, his post-rev-olutionary experiences, and then his move to politics. He hoped to make Italy the greatest country in Europe, if not in the world.