SimonJack "The Pigeon That Took Rome" is a very entertaining World War II film. Another reviewer stated that Charlton Heston doesn't do well in a comedy role. I think that's probably true, generally. But in this film, his character is perfect for the plot. This is a tongue- in-cheek comedy about World War II in Rome before the Allies have taken the city. Things weren't very funny to the Italians then – even though they are a people who tend to take things in stride and still see humor in difficult times. There's much more to this, but one must save some of the details that new viewers will enjoy more without foreknowledge. Heston's persona fits so well because of the very fact that he doesn't belong doing spy work or undercover work. He tells that to his CO when Col. Harrington sends him on his assignment. Heston protests that he is a line solder who fights and works best with the ranks in the field. So, when he gets to Rome through the Italian "resistance" he clearly doesn't fit in. And, that's part of the humor because he and Elsa Martinelli's character, Antonella Massimo, go at one another often. If that were all there was to this assignment, the film indeed would not be that funny. But, Harry Guardino is tossed into the pot as Sgt. Joseph Angelico, a GI who speaks Italian, and he's to help MacDougall. Guardino's character adds a light touch that mellows out the spats, and he provides for a nice romantic aspect of the film with Antonella's sister in the film, Rosalba, played by Gabriella Pallotta. All of the cast are excellent in this film. The head of the Massimo household and the Italian resistance is the widower father, Ciccio, played superbly by Salvatore Baccoloni. He was an opera singer as well as an occasional movie actor. Heston has a double role as Captain Paul MacDougall, and as Benny the Snatch, a fictitious member of his squad. Captain MacDougall is the Snatch. And, he also narrates the story – after the fact. His tongue-in-cheek is very funny at times. A hilarious scene to me is when he watches as the stolen pigeons (which, at the time, he didn't know were stolen), dutifully fly back home right to Nazi headquarters. MacDougall learns that the Allied homing pigeons had been the main course at the dinner to announce the engagement to the Massimo's extended family of daughter Rosalba to Sgt. Angelico. Well, all the pigeons but one, but MacDougall didn't know that Antonella had spared one for its carrier missions. So, with the new knowledge in hand, MacDougall sends a message poignantly intended for the Germans. And the German commander's reaction is very funny. Even funnier is that MacDougall and Angaelico watch as the last four pigeons are released and only three of them fly to Nazi headquarters. The other – the last true blue Allied pigeon that Antonella had spared (unbeknownst to MacDougall) flies south to the Allied lines. And the message intended for the Germans' eyes is such good news to the Allies that they press the attack and quickly push the Germans back and take Rome. This film is just good fun, even if the romance of the Heston and Martinelli characters at the end seems a bit contrived, considering how much and often they were at each other's throats through much of the film. As one other reviewer noted, its best just to disconnect one's brains and sit back to enjoy this film.

bkoganbing There are certain actors who should not do comedy and Charlton Heston was one of them. His no nonsense granite personality of integrity was out of place in a film like The Pigeon That Took Rome. The part looks like it was written for Rock Hudson.Heston does his best however as an infantry officer who together with an Italian speaking sergeant Harry Guardino is sent days before the Allied liberation of Rome into the Eternal City. The cautious Allies want to find out if Hitler really means to evacuate and leave it an open city or will he fight for it.A prime mover in the underground is Monsignor Arthur Shields at the Vatican playing a character based on the one that was the central figure in the later film The Scarlet and the Black that starred Gregory Peck. He gets Heston and Guardino, disguised as priests, into the home of Salvatore Baccaloni with daughters Elsa Martinelli and Gabriella Pallotta and their little brother Marietto.That family has its own problems, Pallotta is pregnant via another American who was a flier later killed by the Nazis. She's got to get married and quick and sizes up Guardino as a likely prospect.With Nazi communication detection techniques Heston is forced to use those old reliable carrier pigeons. But when Baccaloni plans a feast for the daughter he uses those same pigeons that could signal the Allied advance into Rome as disguised quail. What to do?The only time Heston ever successfully essayed comedy was in the Private War Of Major Benson in which his stern countenance was played against by the kids of the military school and his lady interest Julia Adams. It doesn't work in The Pigeon That Took Rome and a lot of potentially funny stuff just falls flat. Chuck's next visit to Rome was The Agony And The Ecstacy. He was a much better Michaelangelo than a spy.

elplmbr I saw this film at a local theater in the '60s. I loved it. War movies are among my favorites but this one is special. The story of American spies doing recon in Rome is plausible. Capt. Heston, a no no-nonsense combat leader was chosen over the division intelligence officers. A very well made and entertaining movie resulted. The script, the actors and the Roman setting is perfect. As mentioned in other comments, the cast seems to enjoy making this movie. The Chinese will probably come up with a DVD. I have a very good recording I took off of TV. We love to watch it after seeing a list of serious shoot-em up war movies. It's very hard to find so I treasure my copy.

artzau Imagine Heston in role with elaborate costuming and playing second fiddle to one of the greatest upstagers of all time! The amazing thing is old Charlton even looks like he's having a good time. So, who's the guy continually pushing Moses Ben Hur out every scene they share? None other than the great basso from the Met, Salvatore Baccaloni. Now, you should know that Sal had a bad rep at the Met for being a bit of a joker and hard to work with, but the crew loved him. In this film, where Heston and Harry Guardino in his pre-TV days play two GIs in WW2 spying on the Germans, they have to inform the allies as to the morale and preparedness of the Germans. So, how are these two intrepids getting the word back to the Allies? Homing pigeons. No sweat...but, a problemo. The pigeons get eaten by Baccaloni's family for a festa and Sal, not wanting to get into trouble steals some pigeons from...the Germans to replace the ones his family ate. So, when the Germans start reading the messages, they suspect that ... well, it goes on from there. This film is an enjoyable comedy and gave Heston a relief from all those costume roles. Sadly, it was Baccaloni's last film, although he died 7 years later. No video, no DVD. Watch for it on the late show.