Five Graves to Cairo (1943)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Lajos Biró (play) and
Charles Brackett (screenplay)

Release Date:

4 May 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | War

Tagline:

Did a Woman Start the Rout of Rommel?

Plot:

The fate of Cairo is in the hands of a British corporal undercover in Rommel's headquarters.

Plot Keywords:

Desert | Map | WWII | Reference To Winston Churchill | Tank

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Franchot Tone	...	Cpl. John J. Bramble / Davos
Anne Baxter	...	Mouche
Akim Tamiroff	...	Farid
Erich von Stroheim	...	Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
Peter van Eyck	...	Lt. Schwegler (as Peter Van Eyck)
Fortunio Bonanova	...	Gen. Sebastiano

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | USA:Approved (certificate #9090) | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Sweden:15

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Billy Wilder wanted the role of Cpl. John J. Bramble/Davos (ultimately played by 'Franchot Tone') to be played by Cary Grant, but Grant was unavailable.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bramble walks/runs into the town his shadow is behind him, then in front, then again behind him.

Quotes:

Field Marshal Rommel: We shall take that big fat cigar out of Mr. Churchill's mouth and make him say Heil.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Shadows of Suspense (2006) (V)

offbeat war flick

Not your usual action battle movie, but a thoughtful, well-cast and well-written piece of propaganda. Worth watching for a multitude of reasons - the opening shots of the desert, the end sequences of pure war-worship, Anne Baxter's well-drawn and bitter maid, Stroheim's compelling and scene stealing portrayal of Rommel, the comic Italian general (I think this works as a bit of light relief despite being just that little bit xenophobic). Keeps the interest. Excellent.