La grande guerra was comedy at its most sophisticated: comedy as tragedy. Its anti-heroic stance toward Italy's World War I exploits-which the establishment wished to either glorify or, better yet, not discuss at all-inspired a widespread campaign to suppress the film. But instead it became quite popular and was extremely influential, sharing the Venice Film Festival's Golden Lion award with Rossellini's Generale Della Rovere. Vittorio Gassman and Alberto Sordi are at their subtle best as two reluctant soldiers whose goal is simply to survive. Cowards with every reason to be so, and con-men in their better moments, they con each other, then join forces, along with Silvana Mangano as a warmhearted camp follower who, like everyone else, tries to work the war for her own profit. Their efforts to escape a dread fate are surprisingly funny, under the circumstances-for the debacle of WWI is vividly evoked, from lice-infested trenches to the smell of fear. But the final irony of their situation is almost unbearable.