The Last Valley unfolds in the German countryside during the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a conflict initially sparked by religious disagreements but quickly shifting to primarily political concerns—though it’s hard to say there was much of a distinction between the two. Vogel (Omar Sharif), who used to be a teacher and is now constantly fleeing from the destruction caused by war, finds a village tucked away in a beautiful valley; however, the Captain (Michael Caine) and his group of mercenaries show up at the same time. This band includes Lutherans, Calvinists, and Anabaptists—whom they refer to as “pagans,” “blasphemers,” “Satan worshipers,” and "worse" – meaning Catholics. To protect himself and the village from looting, violence against women, and general devastation by the soldiers, Vogel convinces the Captain to stay there for the winter, encouraging him to set aside thoughts of war, hunger, and the plague. Through Vogel’s efforts, the Captain establishes a temporary peace with the villagers, agreeing to provide protection in exchange for food, lodging, and female companions; during one particularly pointed scene filled with religious mockery, the Captain manipulates the local Catholic priest into giving—or selling—the selected women a “public blessing ... full remission of past and future sins” (it brings to mind the bishop in The Baby of Mâcon who preemptively forgave hundreds of potential rapists). There’s another memorable sequence featuring Sharif; the Captain has moved an obvious altar dedicated to "Our Lady" to a less noticeable spot within the valley, which angers the priest and other Catholics—including some who are actually under the Captain's command. To maintain this delicate balance of power, Vogel invents a story about a dream he had: “a regiment of soldiers came riding under a full moon. They were huge and wicked, and they faced the altar. But as they watched, the shrine disappeared. So the soldiers went on their way to Rheinfelden and never came back." Writer/director James Clavell creates romantic interests for both the Captain and Vogel, but the most important relationship is the complicated bond—a mixture of affection and animosity—between the hardened soldier and the principled former teacher. On the other hand, Clavell makes excellent use of the Tyrolean scenery; the valley itself, beautifully photographed by John Wilcox, fully delivers on the idyllic setting that the story promises.

Source on TMDB