The Desert of the Tartars

1976 2h 20m IT

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 96

HistoryDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Lieutenant Giovanni Drogo is assigned to the old Bastiani border fortress where he expects an imminent attack by nomadic fearsome Tartars.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Jacques Perrin
Sten. Giovanni Drogo
Vittorio Gassman
Filimore
Giuliano Gemma
Mattis
Helmut Griem
Lieutenant Simeon
Philippe Noiret
General
Francisco Rabal
M.llo Tronk
Fernando Rey
Nathanson
Laurent Terzieff
Ten. Pietro Von Hamerling

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Valerio Zurlini
Writers: André G. Brunelin, Valerio Zurlini
Languages: Italian
Countries: France, Germany, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

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Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

50 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Valerio Zurlini, shot by Luciano Tovoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Franco Arcalli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Jacques Perrin and Vittorio Gassman and Giuliano Gemma carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0074400 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Valerio Zurlini directs. Luciano Tovoli behind the camera. Ennio Morricone scores. Franco Arcalli cuts. Produced in France, Germany, Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

150 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2International production across 3 countries: France, Germany, Italy.
3Directed by Valerio Zurlini, shot by Luciano Tovoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Franco Arcalli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Jacques Perrin and Vittorio Gassman and Giuliano Gemma carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0074400 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 96 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "based on novel or book", "tatars", "desert", "fortress".