Operation Ogre

1979 1h 41m ES

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 51

DramaHistoryThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Spain, 1973. Dictator Francisco Franco has ruled the country since 1939 with an iron fist; but he is now a very old and sick man. The future of the weakened regime is in danger. Admiral Carrero Blanco is his natural successor. The Basque terrorist gang ETA decides that he must die to prevent the dictatorship from continuing.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Gian Maria Volonté
Izarra
José Sacristán
Iker
Ángela Molina
Amaiur
Eusebio Poncela
Txabi
Saverio Marconi
Luque
Georges Staquet
The Builder
Nicole Garcia
Karmele
Féodor Atkine
Joseba

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gillo Pontecorvo
Writers: Ugo Pirro, Gillo Pontecorvo, Giorgio Arlorio
Languages: Basque, Spanish
Countries: Italy, Spain

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

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

47 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Basque, Spanish.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Italy, Spain.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, shot by Marcello Gatti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 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#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Gian Maria Volonté and José Sacristán and Ángela Molina carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0079655 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gillo Pontecorvo directs. Marcello Gatti behind the camera. Ennio Morricone scores. Mario Morra cuts. Produced in Italy, Spain. Dialogue in Basque, Spanish.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

147 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Basque, Spanish.
3International production across 2 countries: Italy, Spain.
4Directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, shot by Marcello Gatti. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Ennio Morricone. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Mario Morra shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Gian Maria Volonté and José Sacristán and Ángela Molina carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt0079655 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Only 51 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
10Classified under 12 themes, including "madrid, spain", "1970s", "franco regime (francoism)", "based on true story".