Movie Music
The movie A Town without Pity (1961) was filmed in Austria deals with American occupying forces in Germany post WWII. The film, which was based on the novel by Manfred Gregor, features Gene Pitney’s haunting song “A Town without Pity .” The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to “Moon River.” However, this golden oldie did win a Golden Globe award for “Best Motion Picture Song.” Dimitri Tiomkin (music) and Ned Washington (lyrics) wrote the “Town Without Pity. In 1961, it went to #13 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #10 in Canada, #32 in the U.K., and #31 in Australia.
In the story, four soldiers leave their army post and travel to the nearby town, looking for beer and more. They see a young German girl changing from her bikini beside a swimming hole, and a gang rape occurs. Major Steve Garrett, played by Kirk Douglas, defends the soldiers during a trial held in civilian facilities near the base. The movie is an indictment of the treatment of the girl by her father and the local people. The lack of pity focused on in the film wasn’t directed toward the four soldiers but rather on those close to the girl in the town.
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