Biyografi Dünyası
Five Branded Women

Five Branded Women

Movie · 1960 · 4 people

Martin Ritt made only one war film in his career, and this 1960 Italian-American war drama is it, which sets Five Branded Women apart in his filmography. It was produced by Dino De Laurentiis and released by Paramount Pictures. The roughly 115-minute film was shot in English, and in Germany it is known as Jovanka und die anderen, in France as Cinq femmes marquées.

The story unfolds in Yugoslavia under Nazi occupation during the Second World War. Five women whom the partisans accuse of consorting with Germans have their heads shaved and are driven out of town. Holding on to one another to survive, they eventually join the resistance. Silvana Mangano plays Jovanka, with Jeanne Moreau, Vera Miles, Barbara Bel Geddes and Carla Gravina alongside her. Van Heflin plays a partisan leader and Richard Basehart a humane German prisoner. The film was Moreau's first American production.

Ivo Perilli and Michael Wilson adapted the screenplay from Ugo Pirro's novel Jovanka e le altre, and Angelo Francesco Lavagnino composed the music. Shooting took place in Italy and in Klagenfurt, Austria. With Silvana Mangano, Jeanne Moreau and Guido Celano alongside American performers, the production had an international cast.

DirectorMartin Ritt
Production companyParamount Pictures Corporation
Five Branded Women Five Branded Women

Reactions

You can pick up to 3 reactions.

Cast

Only cast members with a profile on this site are listed.

Alex Nicol Alex Nicol Actor · died at 85 Guido Celano Guido Celano Actor · died at 83 Silvana Mangano Silvana Mangano Actor · died at 59 Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau Film actor · died at 89

Titles sharing this cast

Through different eyes

History & Society Lens Asks about the period, the social background and what the work reflects.

Five Branded Women, set in Nazi-occupied Yugoslavia during the Second World War, takes up a particular form of wartime punishment aimed at women: five women accused of consorting with Germans have their heads shaved by the partisans and are driven out of town. That opening shows how an accusation of collaboration, when levelled at women, can become a visible brand. What makes the film interesting is these women's path from outcasts to the resistance; people condemned by their community joining the same cause complicates the question of who counts as a traitor and who as a patriot. Adapted from Ugo Pirro's novel, the story stands out for not viewing the partisan struggle only through the lens of heroics.

Action & Thriller Fan Puts pace, tension and set pieces first; little patience for slow drama.

World War Two, partisans, Nazi occupation: on paper it's right up my street. Five women fighting to survive and joining the resistance makes a strong basis for conflict. But this is a war drama first and foremost, so over 115 minutes expect it to spend more time on its characters than on combat. Names like Van Heflin and Silvana Mangano are a draw. If you're patient, you may find tension too.

Family Viewer Asks whether the whole household can watch it; cares about humour and heart.

This is a war film with a heavy subject. Women have their heads shaved as punishment and are driven out of town. There is war and occupation throughout. It is not suitable for young children. If you watch with high-school-age teens, it can be a good chance to talk about history. For fans of older films, names like Jeanne Moreau and Silvana Mangano are a bonus. It runs almost two hours, so keep that in mind.

These are not reader reviews: they are short editorial takes written from different viewer perspectives with AI assistance. Reader reviews are below.

Reviews (0)

Log in Log in to write a review.

Comments