text: Saadi Yacef, who plays El-Hadi Jaffar, and Samia Kerbash, who plays Fathia, were both members of the FLN and Pontecorvo is said to have been greatly inspired by their accounts. The actors credited are:
  Jean Martin as Colonel Philippe Mathieu
  Saadi Yacef as El-Hadi Jafar
  Brahim Haggiag as Ali La Pointe
  Tommaso Neri as Captain Dubois
  Samia Kerbash as Fathia
  Ugo Paletti as a Captain
  Fusia El Kader as Halima
  Franco Moruzzi as Mahmoud
  Mohamed Ben Kassen as Little Omar
  Sound and music
  Sound – both music and effects – perform important functions in the movie. Indigenous Algerian drumming, rather than dialogue, is heard during a scene in which female FLN militants prepare for bombings. In addition, Pontecorvo used the sounds of gunfire, helicopters and truck engines to symbolize the French methods of battle, while bomb blasts, ululation, wailing and chanting symbolize the Algerian methods. Gillo Pontecorvo wrote the music for The Battle of Algiers, but because he was classified as a "melodist-composer" in Italy, he was required to work with another composer as well; his good friend Ennio Morricone collaborated with him. The solo military drum, which is heard throughout the film, is played by the famous Italian drummer Pierino Munari.
  Release, reception and legacy