The Assisi Underground is a 1985 American film made for television, written and directed by Alexander Ramati. It is an adaptation of his 1978 novel, The Assisi Underground: The Priest who Rescued Jews, which is based on a true-life account by Father Rufino Niccacci of events surrounding the Assisi Network, an effort to hide 300 Jews in the town of Assisi, Italy during World War II. The film stars Ben Cross, Irene Papas, Maximilian Schell, Karlheinz Hackl, and James Mason in his final performance before his death in July 1984. His final role in a feature film was The Shooting Party. Plot In 1943 Franciscan priest Rufino Niccacci is asked by the bishop of Assisi Giuseppe Placido Nicolini to covertly rescue Italian Jews from the Nazis. Cast Ben Cross as Rufino Niccacci James Mason as Monsignor Giuseppe Placido Nicolini, Bishop of Assisi Irene Papas as Mother Giuseppina Maximilian Schell as Colonel Valentin Müller Karlheinz Hackl as Captain von Velden Geoffrey Copleston as Chief of Police Bertolucci Riccardo Cucciolla as Luigi Brizi Angelo Infanti as Giorgio Kropf Delia Boccardo as Countess Cristina Paolo Malco as Paolo Josza Roberto Bisacco as Professor Rieti Edmund Purdom as Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa Venantino Venantini as Pietro Maurice Poli as Vito Giancarlo Prete as Col. Gay Alessandra Mussolini as Sister Beata Riccardo Salvino as Otto Maionica Greta Vayan as Rita Maionica Alfredo Pea as Gino Bartali Critical response The film received a poor response from critics. History In 1998, The New York Times published an article about an Assisi resident who had come there as a refugee. On October 5, 2012, The National Catholic Register published a long two-part article pegged to the opening of a new exhibition based on 25 years of research into the city's role in saving thousands of refugees, including approximately 300 Jews. References 1985 films 1985 drama films Films directed by Alexander Ramati American drama films American World War II films Holocaust films Films based on Polish novels Films set in 1943 Films set in Italy World War II films based on actual events Films about Catholicism Golan-Globus films Films produced by Menahem Golan Films produced by Yoram Globus 1980s English-language films 1980s American films