Scipio Africanus: The Defeat of Hannibal

Scipione l'africano; historical film, Italy, 1937; D: Carmine Gallone, S: Annibale Ninchi, Camillo Pilotto, Fosco Giachetti, Francesca Bragiotti, Marcello Giorda

Rome during the Second Punic War, 205 BC. Carthaginian general Hannibal is still in Italy even after a decade of his army's incursion, so the Roman Senate names general Scipio as consul and approves his plan to attack North Africa and cut off Hannibal. The Roman Republic starts a mobilization and embarks war ships from Sicily. The Roman Army wins the Battle of Cirta and captures Syphax, the king of the Carthage-allied Numidian tribes, while his Carthaginian wife Sophonisba commits suicide. Hannibal is then summoned to return to Carthage to defend it. Scipio oversees victory of the Roman Army in the Battle of Zama in 202 BC.

A rare film depiction of the Second Punic War between Carthage and Roman Republic, "Scipio Africanus" was aimed to be a propaganda film to drum up support for Mussolini's Greater Italy and planned annexation of parts of North Africa, but is still a surprisingly well done and relatively historically accurate picture. Carmine Gallone directs the film in a conventional and standard, but effective way, leaning towards spectacle through its scenes of masses (thousands of people gather in front of the Roman Senate and welcome general Scipio, giving the Roman salute; a vertical camera pan over a thousand Roman soldiers, followed by a zoom on Scipio in the middle) and opulent set-designs. There are some good attempts at giving a three-dimensional recreation of the life and mentality of that era: for instance, a servant gives a message to Hannibal: "Oh lord of victories, the Romans have to much faith in Scipio that they dared to put the land on which you camped for auction". Upon laughing off Scipio's plan for the invasion from Sicily ("So he wants to play Hannibal in Carthage?"), a commander cautions Hannibal: "Scipio is much closer to Carthage than you are to Rome". A little bit overstretched, where Hannibal is actually a more intruiging character than Scipio, the movie still works. The highlight: the 20-minute finale depicting the Battle of Zama, where 10,000 extras played soldiers on both sides, and even a dozen elephants were used in the charge against the Roman Army, which reminds a bit of the central battle in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King".

Grade:++