The Changing of the Guard

During WWII, Mario is the mayor, chosen by the Fascists in a small town in Italy, and the Americans are about to arrive. A coward--like most of the characters in the film--he wants to call it a day and asks his "good friend," innkeeper Attilio, to replace him. Nobody wants to be a hero; in fact, everybody's busy saving their hides. Even when a Fascist leader is murdered, they hide the body.