Ferzetti starred in Gianni Puccini's "Il carro armato dell'8 settembre" (1960), followed by Florestano Vancini's "La lunga notte del '43" (both 1960). The latter film was set during the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943 during the Second World War, and saw Ferzetti feature alongside Belinda Lee and Enrico Maria Salerno. It was a considerable success at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for a Goldon Lion Award. He made his international breakthrough as an oversexed, restless playboy, Sandro, in Michelangelo Antonioni's "L'Avventura" (also 1960). Starring alongside Lea Massari and Monica Vitti romantically, his role was well received. Liz-Anne Bawden in "The Oxford Companion to Film" said, "The acting is excellent. Gabriele Ferzetti repeats and develops his role from "Le Amiche" of the inadequate male/artist".