BBC Radio 4 LW

Ambler

Drama

A season of adaptations that celebrate Eric Ambler's striking pre-World War II thrillers.

A season of adaptations that celebrate the most striking period in Eric Ambler's writing career - the thrillers that foreshadowed World War II.

The Battle of San Pietro

Ambler: The Battle of San Pietro

BBC Radio 4 - Ambler, The Battle of San Pietro

The story behind John Huston and Eric Ambler's wartime documentary.

In 1944, British spy novelist Eric Ambler and Hollywood film director John Huston were paired to make a film to support the Allied war effort. It wasn't plain sailing.

By Nick Perry

In 1944, British spy novelist Eric Ambler and Hollywood film director John Huston were paired up to make a film to support the Allied war effort. Neither Huston nor Ambler had made a documentary before; they were used to writing the script then shooting and now they were going to shoot before writing. They agreed that there would be no staging, no re-enactment, nothing fake or artificial in their production. But the ethics of both men were tested by the reality of crafting a story in a war zone.

John Huston . . . Elliot Cowan
Eric Ambler . . . Joseph Kloska
Jules Buck . . . Joseph Ayre 
Colonel Gillette . . . Nathan Osgood
The Interviewer . . . Lorelei King
David MacDonald . . . Christopher Harper
General Harrison . . . Kenny Blyth
Elsie . . . Helen Clapp

Director . . . Sasha Yevtushenko

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