First of all, let me start off, by saying that I disagree with many other reviews on here, that state that this hidden gem, was supposedly poorly written. I think it's cause those reviewers were expecting this to be more of a military themed drama. However, this film only seems to use the world war 2 era Italy & military setting, as a disguise, for what the film is truly about. The instinct & will to survive, the human condition & relationships, a romantic triangle, sexual frustrations, class distinctions, & so much more. This film really covers so much ground, with such a simple premise. A small group of people are trapped in a cave, in World War 2 era Italy, & must struggle to survive, & find a way out. They luckily find food, & other supplies, essential to their survival. Sadly, several people die, one while attempting an escape. I particularly enjoyed the romantic triangle between Nino Castelnuovo, Rosanna Schiffaino, & John Saxon. I can absolutely relate to Nino Castelnuovo's character, as I all too familiar with what it's like to be the nice guy, who get's trapped in the Friend zone. I also particularly enjoyed Brian Aherne's character, & the way he hilariously tries to order Rosanna Schiffaino's character around. Oh, & when he gets drunk with Larry Hagman, lol. There is also one scene that shockingly comes close to showing nudity. I think the writing works perfectly, with the way the characters interact with each other, & trying to maintain their ranks. I've seen some other posts that knocked the low production values, but in my opinion, those low budget values are one of the film's strengths. For me, it adds to the setting & story, & caught my attention. Also, shooting in black & white, gives it a somber\dark tone, for much of the film. Especially in the cave scenes, there is a sense of darkness & foreboding. For me, it just wouldn't have had the same effect, with a large budget, fancy effects, & color cinematography. Also, let me say that I absolutely dig that groovy '60s theme song, played over the opening credits, by Bobby Bare! It gets stuck in my head, for days on end!
Review of The Cavern
