This film essentially begins with a German soldier named "Sergeant Paul Keller" (Steve Forrest) carrying on a romantic relationship with a young Yugoslavian by the name of "Jovanka" (Silvana Mangano) while both countries are at war with one another. Not long afterward, the two of them are caught by a partisan group while embracing each other in the woods and each are subsequently punished with Sergeant Keller being castrated on the spot while Jovanka has her head shaved as punishment for fraternizing with the enemy. The scene then shifts to Jovanka and four other women being herded into the public square by German soldiers and ordered by the commander "Captain Eric Reinhardt" (Richard Basehart) to reveal the identities of the partisans who humiliated them in that manner. Fearing reprisal, all five women remain silent and as a result they are expelled from the city with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. Feeling betrayed, they then decide to take up arms against the Germans and in the course of this action they are admitted into the partisan movement. Yet as much as they hate the Germans, what they don't realize is the degree of savagery the commander of the partisans named "Velko" (Van Heflin) is willing to inflict upon his enemies--and he has no tolerance for those who question his authority. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this turned out to be a better movie than I anticipated due in large part to the intense plot and the excellent performances of Van Heflin, Silvana Mangano and Vera Miles (as "Daniza"). Admittedly, it is somewhat dated and doesn't have the special effects or CGI that more modern films typically have. But even so, it has held up pretty well through the course of time and I have rated it accordingly. Above average.
Review of 5 Branded Women
