{"id":7460,"date":"2021-10-23T10:09:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-23T15:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackworldcinema.net\/blog\/?p=7460"},"modified":"2025-06-03T00:27:46","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T05:27:46","slug":"sat-nov-13-7pm-black-vets-throwback-capt-john-kitzmiller-in-valley-of-peaceslovenia-1957-best-actor-cannes-film-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blackworldcinema.net\/blog\/2021\/10\/23\/sat-nov-13-7pm-black-vets-throwback-capt-john-kitzmiller-in-valley-of-peaceslovenia-1957-best-actor-cannes-film-festival\/","title":{"rendered":"Sun, Nov 21, 3pm, Online Screening, Black WWII Vet, John Kitzmiller in Valley of Peace(Slovenia, 1957) Best Actor Cannes Film Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Sun, Nov 21, 3pm
\nAdmission: Suggested donation $10.00
\n<\/span>Online at Watchbeem.com
\nhttps:\/\/watchbeem.com\/cowatch\/valley-of-peace-1956
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Valley of Peace (Dolina Miru) Slovenia, 1957<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n
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Valley of Peace (Slovene: Dolina miru) is a 1956 Yugoslavian (Slovenian) war film directed by France \u0160tiglic. It was in competition at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival, where John Kitzmiller received the Best Actor award for his role as Sgt. Jim.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The film was selected for screening as part of the Cannes Classics section at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Synopsis:<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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During WWII in Slovenia, two orphaned children seeking the imaginary Valley of Peace run into a downed black American pilot who tries to protect them from the Germans until the Yugoslav Partisans can arrive.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A boy and younger girl lost their families in an air raid. They have heard about a valley where there is always peace and fancy that this is the house of the boy’s uncle. They start looking for the valley. At the same time an airplane is shot down and a black American pilot jumped by parachute. After escaping Nazi Soldiers, he finds the children at a ford. The boy and girl are standing in the middle of a river, scared and crying, neither daring to cross. The pilot cannot abandon the children although they will reduce his chance of escaping. Both the Germans and the Slovenia partisans know that the pilot had survived. Who will find him first?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Far better known as a popular and versatile actor in\u00a0Italy<\/a>\u00a0and parts of\u00a0Europe<\/a>\u00a0than in his native country, the\u00a0United States<\/a>, John Kitzmiller was born in Battle Creek,\u00a0Michigan<\/a>, on December 4, 1913, one of two children of John B. and Mary E. Kitzmiller. In his youth he seemed destined for a career in science and technology.\u00a0 In high school Kitzmiller joined the Chemistry Club and at the University of Michigan he earned his bachelor\u2019s degree in chemical engineering in 1937.<\/p>\n

\"John_Kitzmiller_from_the_Movie_Valley_of_Peace_1957\"<\/a>When\u00a0World War II<\/a>\u00a0intervened, Kitzmiller, as an Army captain, was stationed in Italy in 1943 serving with the all-African American 92nd<\/sup>\u00a0Infantry (Buffalo) Division which rebuilt bombed roads and bridges.\u00a0 He was one of the few black soldiers who chose to remain in Italy after the war rather than face the racial situation in the United States.\u00a0 The fact that both his parents died while he was in military service further loosened his ties to home.<\/p>\n

In the spring of 1946, while in the middle of a poker game, Kitzmiller was spotted by film director Luigi Zampa and producer Carlo Ponti who instantly liked the way he looked and laughed and persuaded him to appear in\u00a0Vivere in pace\u00a0<\/i>(To Live in Peace<\/i>, 1947).\u00a0 Kitzmiller played an American GI who, along with a white American journalist, escapes capture by\u00a0Germans<\/a>\u00a0and is sheltered by Italian farmers. \u00a0The award-winning neorealist film was hailed internationally by critics who welcomed it as a refreshing antidote to Italy\u2019s Fascist-era productions and as proof of the revival of Italian cinema.<\/p>\n

In 1957, he was the first black actor to win a\u00a0best actor award<\/a>\u00a0at the\u00a0Cannes Film Festival<\/a>\u00a0for his role in the\u00a0Yugoslavian<\/a>\u00a0(Slovenian<\/a>) film\u00a0Valley of Peace<\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Kitzmiller is most famous for his role as\u00a0Quarrel<\/a>\u00a0in the\u00a01962<\/a>\u00a0James Bond<\/a>\u00a0film\u00a0Dr. No<\/a><\/i>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Best actor Male Role Award<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Special Diploma<\/div>\n
best leading role
\nDolina miru (1956)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Arena Golden Medal<\/div>\n
best leading role
\nDolina miru (1956)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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John Kitzmiller<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Pulski Filmski Festival<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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1956<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
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