Hannibal (1959)

Hannibal: Directed by Carlo Ludovico Bragaglia, Edgar G. Ulmer. With Victor Mature, Gabriele Ferzetti, Rita Gam, Milly Vitale. During the Second Punic War in 218 BC, Carthaginian general Hannibal attacks the Roman Republic by crossing the Pyrenees and the Alps with his vast army.

“Iu0026#39;ve red a lot about this figure and I got to admire it; I think he was in the level of Julius Caesar and Alexander when it comes to ancient historyu0026#39;s generals. The involving tactic he used at Cannae is still studied in Military Academies around the world. He was an extremely clever man most educated for his time and he loved his country. The Crossing of the Alps back in 200 B.C. with an army and 30 war elephants can only be qualified as epic and a true highlight in Military history.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe guy sure deserved a better try in films. Italians were never good at making epic spectacular films, but Americans did some very good products and its a pity they were never interested in Hannibal.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eEdgar Ulmeru0026#39;s film is slow, boring and irrelevant. It starts with the crossing of the Alps and ends after Cannae; that period was precisely Hannibalu0026#39;s most glorious when he moved through Italy (Romeu0026#39;s dominions back then) at will defeating the legions four times and retiring without ever being defeated. The movie doesnu0026#39;t transmit at all the real significance of such a quest against the most powerful nation of the ancient world in its own soil.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVictor Mature (Hannibal) was the master of overacting and he proofs it in this picture once more moving around with his usual 60u0026#39;s greasy hairdo. The rest of the cast is average or below average. The battles are not very realistic and the elephants that were used as todayu0026#39;s tanks donu0026#39;t even look dangerous (even if you pass over that they were Indian elephants instead of African).u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eDonu0026#39;t waste your time on this one. The great general deserves a lot more and he sure gave a lot of material for a good script.”