Directed by:
Valerio ZurliniScreenplay:
André G. BrunelinCinematography:
Luciano TovoliComposer:
Ennio MorriconeCast:
Vittorio Gassman, Giuliano Gemma, Helmut Griem, Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Francisco Rabal, Fernando Rey, Laurent Terzieff, Jean-Louis Trintignant (more)Plots(1)
For his first commission, infantry lieutenant Drogo (Jacques Perrin) is stationed at a remote desert garrison on the mist-shrouded border of the North Kingdom. Filling their days with endless drilling, the soldiers of Fortezza Bastiani spend the long nights wondering about an enemy no one has ever seen. As the days stretch into months, the strain of waiting for attack takes its toll on Dragon´s comrades: sadistic Major Mattis (Giuliano Gemma), sardonic Lieutenant Simeon (Helmut Griem), cynical medic Rovine (Jean-Louis Trintignant) and humiliated Captain Hortiz (Max von Sydow). (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
![Vittorio Gassman](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/161/871/161871551_fbe2bb.jpg)
Vittorio Gassman
Italy
Best movies:
Sleepers (1996)
Viva Italia! (1977)
Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)
![Giuliano Gemma](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/274/274301_c649e1.jpg)
Giuliano Gemma
Italy
Best movies:
Ben-Hur (1959)
The Leopard (1963)
The Price of Honor (1969)
![Helmut Griem](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/271/271429_b305bd.jpg)
Helmut Griem
German Empire
Best movies:
Berlin Alexanderplatz (1980) (series)
Cabaret (1972)
The Meetings of Anna (1978)
![Philippe Noiret](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/163/769/163769727_f54bf0.jpg)
Philippe Noiret
France
Best movies:
Agence matrimoniale (1952)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Old Gun (1975)
![Jacques Perrin](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/166/586/166586756_69f75a.jpg)
Jacques Perrin
France
Best movies:
Cinema Paradiso (1988)
The Chorus (2004)
State of Siege (1972)
![Francisco Rabal](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/442/164442105_9390cf.jpg)
Francisco Rabal
Spain
Best movies:
History (1986) (TV movie)
Viridiana (1961)
La colmena (1982)
![Fernando Rey](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/165/526/165526662_1a1071.jpg)
Fernando Rey
Spain
Best movies:
The French Connection (1971)
Viridiana (1961)
Jesus of Nazareth (1977) (TV movie)
![Laurent Terzieff](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/078/830/78830953_4b7f73.jpg)
Laurent Terzieff
France
Best movies:
Kapò (1959)
Father's Trip (1966)
Germinal (1993)
![Jean-Louis Trintignant](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/164/986/164986936_ae0ab3.jpg)
Jean-Louis Trintignant
France
Best movies:
Three Colours: Red (1994)
A Man and a Woman (1966)
The Easy Life (1962)
![Max von Sydow](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/267/267824_9f437d.jpg)
Max von Sydow
Sweden
Best movies:
Shutter Island (2010)
Awakenings (1990)
The Last Place on Earth (1985) (series)
![Rolf Wanka](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/410/410472_2365ec.jpg)
Rolf Wanka
Austria-Hungary
Best movies:
M (1931)
Die schöne Lügnerin (1959)
The Internecine Project (1974)
![Giorgio Cerioni](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/117/159/117159928_20358b.jpg)
Giorgio Cerioni
Best movies:
I Am Afraid (1977)
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
Bread and Chocolate (1973)
![Lilla Brignone](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w88h116crop/files/images/creator/photos/000/440/440765_b35706.jpg)
Lilla Brignone
Italy
Best movies:
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
L'Eclisse (1962)
Imperial Venus (1963)
Biagio Gambini
Italy
Best movies:
Rocco and His Brothers (1960)
Nights of Cabiria (1957)
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
Piero Morgia
Italy
Best movies:
The Damned (1969)
Accattone (1961)
Mamma Roma (1962)
Sandro Dori
Italy
Best movies:
The 13 Chairs (1969)
Falcone (1999) (TV movie)
Brancaleone at the Crusades (1970)
Angelo Boscariol
Italy
Best movies:
The Agony and the Ecstasy (1965)
Man of the East (1972)
The Scarlet and the Black (1983) (TV movie)
Manfred Freyberger
Italy
Best movies:
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
Bread and Chocolate (1973)
Mussolini: Ultimo atto (1974)
Dino Mele
Best movies:
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
The Driver's Seat (1974)
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)
Loris Bazzocchi
Italy
Best movies:
The Octopus (1984) (series)
Lion of the Desert (1981)
The Desert of the Tartars (1976)