The Last Valley (1970 film)

The Last Valley is 1971 film directed by James Clavell, an historical drama set during the Thirty Years War 16181648. A mercenary soldier Michael Caine and a teacher Omar Sharif, each fleeing the religious war in southern Germany, accidentally find the valley, untouched by the war, and there live in peace. Based upon the novel The Last Valley 1959, by J.B. Pick, the cinematic version of The Last Valley, directed by James Clavell, was the final feature film photographed with the ToddAO 70 mm widescreen process until it was revived to make the film Baraka in 1991.

The Captain and his small band are not far behind. Trapped in the valley, Vogel convinces The Captain to preserve it and the village it shelters for their own benefit as the outside world faces famine and devastation. Live, Vogel tells The Captain, while the army dies. The Captain decides that his men will indeed rest here for the winter. He forces the locals to submit, especially their Headman Gruber Nigel Davenport. The local Catholic priest Per Oscarsson is livid that the mercenaries include a number of Protestants and nihilistic atheists for that matter, but there is little he can do to sway The Captain. The mercenaries are of one mind after The Captain kills a dissenting member of his band, and religious and ethnic divisions are set aside.At first, the locals accept their fate. Vogel is appointed judge by Gruber, to settle disputes between villagers and soldiers. As long as food, shelter, and a small number of women are provided, the mercenaries leave the locals alone. Hansen Michael Gothard attempts to rape a girl and, exiled from the group, manages to lead a rival mercenary band to the valley, before the winter sets in and closes the valley to all outsiders. He and his band are destroyed and the valley goes into hibernation. But as winter fades, it becomes obvious that the soldiers will have to leave. The Captain learns of a major military campaign in the Upper Rhineland and decides to leave the valley in order to participate. Vogel wants to accompany him, fearing Gruber will have him killed once The Captain leaves. However, The Captain orders Vogel to stay as the condition of not sacking the village, leaving a few men as guards. ........

Source: Wikipedia