Benedito Dias Rodrigues Very impressive movie about the famous thirty years war that was set place in Germany and become a massacre in name of God...based on a book this picture explain how all religions explore the fear....Despite the English accent infect the original story,the natural choice should be a native German to play the main roles even Caine and Shariff doing their best...simply fantastic piece of art!!!Waiting for a new restoration!!!Resume:First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 Source: DVD / Rating: 9

Wuchak I was at the store and spied this unknown 1971 flick amongst the DVDs; it looked like my kind of movie, especially with Michael Caine and Omar Sharif, so I naturally wondered why I had never heard of it. I made a mental note to check out some reviews on the internet. The across-the-board high ratings piqued my interest, so I decided to pick it up the next time I saw it.The first thing that made a favorable impression was the outstanding opening credits sequence. Many reviewers mention John Barry's magnificent score as a highlight and they're right. This credits sequence innovatingly depicts the theme of the Thirty Years War -- members of essentially the same religion at each other's throats.THE STORY: During the horrible Thirty Years War in Europe (1618-1648) a band of mercenaries led by the merciless Michael Caine ("The Captain") and a drifter attempting to flee the horrors of the war discover a hidden vale -- the last valley untouched by the war. The drifter talks The Captain into wintering in the peaceful valley rather than pillaging it and raping/killing the villagers. (This setup itself is a hint that this is no ordinary war flick).WHAT WORKS: Parts of the film have a dreamy, surreal atmosphere, particularly the beginning and ending; this is reminiscent of the incomparable "Apocalypse Now." Michael Caine is outstanding as The Captain, a character so hardened by the horrors of war that he no longer even has a name, he's just "The Captain." Caine would perform a similar role in the underrated "The Eagle Has Landed" in 1977, a stunning performance. The Captain's answer to everything was to simply kill, but now, in the valley, he has found peace and the warmth of love. Omar Sharif also perfectly depicts the disillusioned drifter, Vogel, his reaction to the horrors of war has always been to run, but in the valley he also finds peace and love, and even -- maybe -- a family? The depth and ultra-seriousness of the story, including the dialogue of the characters touching on issues of war, loss, God, religion, ignorance, superstitions, love, hope, loyalty, duty, redemption, etc. truly separate this pic from an ordinary war-adventure yarn.It's also very interesting to observe how people lived in a regular hamlet 400 years ago in backwoods Europe. It was not unusual for people back then in such circumstances to live their entire lives within 10 miles or so from where they were born. Such people would likely be under-educated, superstitious, innocent, ignorant and narrow-minded all at the same time, and the film realistically portrays this.WHAT DOESN'T WORK: There are parts of the film that aren't pulled off very well. Some of the dramatic stagings and dialogue come off awkward here and there. These aspects perhaps needed more fine-tuning and this explains why critics originally panned the movie and why it fell into obscurity for thirty years (a fitting curse for being the only movie to ever address the Thirty Years War, eh?).Some have criticized the film for being anti-church or even anti-God. Actually the film's about the pursuit of God, truth, love and happiness in the face of the ultimate horror -- war. And not just any war, a war that lasted three decades wherein innocent civilians -- men, women, children & family members -- were needlessly slaughtered. The repugnance and terror of war caused The Captain to become a ruthless atheist, as he declares in one potent scene, and "tore the heart out of" Vogel, as revealed in another. But the last valley untouched by the neverending conflict has given them both hope again.***SPOILER ALERT*** Originally The Captain was going to slay Vogel as soon as he met him, but after wintering in the valley he sets Vogel up as the leader while he leaves to attend to the business of war. He obviously had a change of heart concerning Vogel. In any event, he returns to the vale, wounded, his only sanctuary from the evils of battle and plague. His dying words to Vogel are: "Vogel, if you find God tell him we created..." He was no longer an atheist in the strictest sense; he now even hoped their was a Creator and WANTED Vogel to find truth, love & happiness. But it was too late for him. Or maybe not? ***END SPOILER*** FINAL ANALYSIS: Despite the obvious flaws the film gets a huge 'A' for effort in my book. "The Last Valley" is a special picture. It successfully creates a small world of people some 400 years ago in a secluded vale in the paradisical wilderness of the Alps. A world you can get lost in for 2 hours. The originality of the story and its inherent profundities, not to mention the fine cast, performances and surreal aspects, lift the film above a simple adventure yarn. It's unorthodox, enlightening, thought-provoking and ultimately moving. If you enjoy films like "Apocalypse Now" and "Runaway Train," films that boldly attempt to go far deeper than the run-of-the-mill action/adventure flick, then be sure to check out "The Last Valley." You won't be disappointed. In addition, it's a film you'll continue to glean from in future viewings. But, since this is a dialogue-driven picture, be sure to use the subtitles so you can understand the heavily accented dialogue. You'll get much more out of it.GRADE: A-

shhimundercoverdamnit This is a rather under looked interesting and powerful film. The movie takes place during the Thirty Years War as it rages through 17th-century Germany. The Last Valley indeed, is an oasis of peace, a hidden valley protected from the outside world's wars and plagues. However, all of this changes when Vogel, a one-time school teacher now on the run played by Omar Sharif (and his gigantic dark, and deep and eyes) wanders into the peaceful valley. It doesn't take much longer until Michael Caine's rag-tag and exhausted army arrives as well.To me the film's strong point is the pairing of Caine, as the fierce captain and Sharif, as the philosopher type. For instance, one of the film's most stunning sequences is one in which Sharif tells of losing his entire family and home at Magdeburg. Caine's response is quite fascinating as he goes on about the war and his own personal touch he gave to Magdeburg, and how such violence and pillage was a response to such event occurring to one of his towns, or cities, or valleys. "I was born in war." The other fascinating idea that the movie dwells on is the subject of religion, religious fanaticism and witchcraft. Yes, you read that right...with craft.You see, good old Sharif talks Caine into doing winter quarters in the valley instead of just sacking the place and moving on as per the norm. An uneasy alliance is formed between, Sharif, Caine and his soldiers, the head honcho in the town (Nigel Davenport) and the local Catholic Priest priest. (Per Oscarsson) Part of the uneasy alliance apparently consists of the local women sleeping with Caine's mercenaries..including one such blond virgin (Madeleine Hinde), who apparently will have a free ticket into heaven if she does the "good deed." Or that is what the Priest claims. Blind religion for it's own sake. Vogel and the Captain, you see are above the religious controversies that come to the forefront throughout the film, they are presented to the audience as free-thinkers at every opportunity; the former is a humanist, the latter a cynic.Perhaps one of the strongest scenes of the film is the sequence in which the brunette beauty Erica (Florinda Bolkan) ( whom Caine's character won in a dice game) religious allegiances are uncovered. You see, she is revealed to be a practicing Satanist, and such doesn't go over very well in the village. QUOTE "But you have taken the Holy Sacrament all your life." "I took nothing more than a piece of bread and a sip of wine."All in all, the film clearly depicts the realism of war and fanaticism. It delves into what is the best in humanity, and abhors that to which is our worst.Great film.

tracyfigueira Jonathan Swift wrote "We have just enough religion to make us hate one another, but not enough religion to make us love one another." Swift, an Anglican minister, was writing scarcely a century after the Thirty Years' War, one of the bloodiest in European history before Napoleon. The war started out as a feud between Catholics and Protestants in what is now the Czech Republic but spread like a wildfire to engulf most of Europe. Germany was hardest hit. Although it began as a religious struggle it essentially became a free-for-all with all the great European powers jockeying for position--Spain, Austria, France, Sweden, Denmark, Prussia--while marauding bands of mercenaries made life hell for an already impoverished peasantry. This film brings to life a conflict most Americans have never heard of. It's surprisingly graphic for its PG rating; it bears comparison to another saga of warfare in Early Modern Europe, Paul Verhoeven's "Flesh and Blood." Written and directed by James Clavell ("Shogun," "King Rat," "The Great Escape") it shows just how horrible both Protestants and Catholics were during this period; ironically, one of the few sympathetic characters is a practicing Satanist (Florinda Bolkan). Once you get past Michael Caine's German accent and Omar Sharif's blond hair-dye, the whole cast is superb. Caine plays a mercenary chief persuaded to spare a tranquil Alpine village from plunder by Sharif, who plays his usual wounded idealist, the voice of sanity in a world gone mad. Particularly noteworthy among the international cast is Hollywood veteran Arthur O'Connell in a surprisingly convincing portrayal of a superstitious, mean-spirited farmer. The movie grippingly demonstrates the horrors of ethnic cleansing and religious conflict, with both sides committing unspeakable acts. The battle scenes are rousing, and there's a love story between Caine and the local witch (Bolkan). This is a movie that makes you think, but also leaves you with a queer feeling in the pit of your stomach. A must for action fans and history buffs.