Martin Ritt, the director, seemed to handle more than his share of films about contradictory cultural allegiances, and he reveled in them. His background may have had something to do with the interest that developed into his skill.
I can remember walking past the uk poster hoarding in1960 for this movie,really wanted to see it but as an eleven year old was taken to see something more appropiate, when the time came for my weeky cinema treat... however i never forgot this movie.
Not quite an exploitation piece, but not quite a solemn-and-sincere drama either, Five Branded Women is a fascinating early picture from Martin Ritt. Initially greeted with passable but hardly rave reviews, the film was somewhat ahead of its time and would probably play much better now than it did when released.
Martin Ritt who partnered with Paul Newman in such films as The Long Hot Summer, Hud, and Hombre did this rather unknown work that was critically well received back in the day, but remains fairly unknown to today's filmgoers. I remember well seeing 5 Branded Women in theater back in the day and never saw it again until very recently.
This relatively unknown gathers a very impressive cast of both European and American actors and actresses. Silvia Mangano gives a fine performance as the leader of the titled women.
I have not seen this movie in many years. But I remember it being very interesting.
Just short of two hours is lengthy for 1960. This melodrama is set in Middle Europe during WW2 and does have its moments.
This film is one of the least known gems to come from producer Dino de Laurentiis. Five women in war-torn Yugoslavia have their heads shaved for having intimate relations with a German soldier.
5 Branded Women (1960)This is a pretty amazing film right from the start, and it doesn't let up. It's a horrifying war movie with five women the victims and sometimes heroes in it.
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