SANDRO'S BATTLE

An amusing and lively treatment of an improbable subject -- a World War II adventure in which a boy thwarts Germans bent on capturing his home -- a historic castle in central Italy. Young Sandro -- Italian with an English grandmother -- was excessively bothered by the exchange of gunfire from German and British guns. Not only did the bombardments disturb the fierce creative efforts of his composer father (permanently established at the piano) but the noise terrified his donkey, Anna. Things really seem to get out of control, however, when the Germans take over the castle and plan a trap for the British. Sandro's efforts to keep all hands happy and save his English friends from doom radiate suspense with such items as a spy in the hay, a signal light and a split second escape to the tune of a tinkling piano. Fast and funny.