Alessandrini's 1942 military film about the British assault on the Italian held Libyan city.

 It is one of the most famous war films from Mussolini's Italy about a group of Italians who are under siege by the British in Libya. The situation is hopeless for the Italians and it is clear that they will lose. The propaganda was intended to give a patriotic message to the Italians -- the worst days of the war were approaching, and that the right thing to do is to remain calm and dignified. There is also a feeling of sacrifice for the motherland in the face of overwhelming odds.

The film was exported with German language dubbing as Die Letzten von Giarabub. Our Collection has six Italian "Fotobusta" cardboard lobby cards for this film; as well as some original German films stills for the Die Letzten von Giarabub Third Reich release.

 Here are two magazine advertisements for the film which appeared in Italy in 1942 to market the film (from our collection.):

Also, from our Collection, the very hard-to-find Cinevita photoplay brochure telling the film plot via a series of over 50 B&W small photos from the film.

The soldiers' song The Festival of Giarabub composed for the film became a huge hit in Fascist Italy. It was released as a recroding, sheet musiuc was published, and it is even today found on post-WWII military CDs of war songs. The lyrics translated into English arte:

The Festival of Giarabub

Nailed on the palm grove vigil property the moon
 on horseback of the moon this ancient minaret
Ring, Machines, Flags, Outbursts, Blood!
tell me, what happens, Cameleer?
it's the festival of Giarabub
 
Colonel, I don't want bread, give me the lead of my musket!
There's the land of my bag that today will suffice me
Colonel, I don't want water, give me the fire destroyer!
With the blood of this heart my thirst will quench itself
Colonel, I don't want change, here no one goes back!
We shall not cede even a meter, if death does not pass
 
The new grass sprouts where the blood fell to rivers
These ghosts, Sentry, are they dead or are they alive?
 
Who speaks so close to us?
Cameleer, it's not you!
On my knees, wayfarer, they're the voices of Giarabub
 
Colonel, I don't want bread, give me the lead of my musket!
There's the land of my bag that today will suffice me
Colonel, I don't want water, give me the fire destroyer!
With the blood of this heart my thirst will quench itself
Colonel, I don't want change, here no one goes back!
We shall not cede even a meter, if death does not pass
 
Colonel, I don't want commendations, I'm dead for my country but the end of Britain begins with Giarabub.

(Translation courtesy of :  https://lyricstranslate.com )

More information on this film is available if you click on the Poster Gallery image of each poster and read the accompanying material at the top of the poster page (from our Collection.)