Introduction

Giorni di gloria (Days of Glory) is a 1945 Italian documentary about the World War II Ardeatine massacre, directed by Giuseppe De Santis, Mario Serandrei, Marcello Pagliero and Luchino Visconti.

Outline

The first documentary on the German occupation of Rome and Italian resistance in the waning years of World War II.

Shot over two years covering the trial of Fascist police chief Pietro Caruso, who organised the Ardeatine massacre of 300 Italian prisoners as reprisal for a partisan attack.

Trivia

• It marked the film debut of Tamara Toumanova and Gregory Peck.
• It was also the first film produced by screen writer Casey Robinson, who in early January 1943 had been contracted by RKO Radio Pictures to write and produce the film under the working title This Is Russia.
• Robinson and Toumanova married in 1944 and divorced in 1955.
• Parts of the film were shot in Cedar City, Utah.
• The film recorded a loss of US$593,000.
• Vernon L. Walker, James G. Stewart, and Roy Granville were nominated for the Oscar for Best Effects.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Guiseppe De Santis, Mario Serandrei, Marcello Pagliero, and Luchino Visconti.
• Producer(s): Fulvio Ricci.
• Writer(s): Umberto Calosso and Umberto Barbaro.
• Music: Costantino Ferri.
• Cinematography: Gianni Di Venanzo, Angelo Jannarelli, Giorgio Lastricati, Navarro, Giovanni Pucci, Arthur Reed, Massimo Terzano, Umberto della Valle, Giovanni Ventimiglia, Vittiriano, Michel Werdier, De Weest, and Manilo.
• Editor(s): Carlo Alberto Chiesa and Mario Serandrei.
• Production: Titanus, Associazione Nazionale Partigiani d’Italia (ANPI), Cinéac (co-production), Ministero delle Terre Occupate (support), Comando delle Divisioni Garibaldine Zone Valsesia (support), and P.W.B. Film Division (support).
• Distributor(s): Titanus and Films san Frontieres.
• Release Date: 17 October 1945 (Italy).
• Running Time: 71 minutes.
• Country: Italy.
• Language: Italian.