What did you do during the war, Pappi?

Sicily, 1943: US Captain Cash is to take the small village of Valerno. The soldiers, weary from the battle, are ready to attack, but to their astonishment, the inhabitants of the village are prepared to surrender. They only have one condition: The upcoming annual wine festival is to take place as planned. And the attackers are "cordially invited". The party is great fun for everyone. Captain Cash is quickly drunk and Lieutenant Christian takes command. In order to be able to report the progress of the attack to the command centre, the unit and the residents stage the battle without further ado. But the whole thing is in danger of being exposed when the German troops suddenly rush to the aid of their Italian allies.

A wonderfully exaggerated, but at times rather silly war spoof by comedy master Blake Edwards ("The Pink Panther", "The Party Animal"), based on a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, who was to become famous years later with hisBlatty, who would go on to achieve world fame years later with his original for the horror classic "The Exorcist", and here adapted a story by director Edwards and Maurice Richlin. Edwards once said the following about his understanding of comedy: "When something is so bad and unbearable, you have to make fun of it." Today, "What Did You Do in the War, Pappi?" is considered one of the best film parodies set during the Second World War.