Going through old 1950's Cinemascope films I realised I had not seen this one. The great Roberto Rossellini was supposed to direct, but wisely withdrew. I cannot imagine he could have been interested in the first place but director's have their whims. Admittedly the bombing of a shop full of escaping people showed clearly the atrocities of war, and seeing children crying in despair gruelling to watch. But then we switch to the unlikely scenario of Richard Burton at his most surly, and Joan Collins had the unfortunate role of being a nun and torn between Burton and holy orders. No spoilers but I think she made the right decision, and the film moves to its climax and finally the film ends. The war scenes tragically relevant, but the rest seemed to me to wallow in the worst of melodrama. There is also the inevitable desert island but it offers no enlightenment on character or situation that take place there. I dread to think it was a popular film in 1957 and that is for others to find out.