The Prize (1963)

As the Nobel Prize winners come to Stockholm to receive their awards, their lives are overturned and perturbed in various ways.

Director:

Mark Robson

Writers:

Ernest Lehman (screenplay), Irving Wallace (novel)

Stars:

Paul Newman, Elke Sommer, Edward G. Robinson

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Newman	...	Andrew Craig
Elke Sommer	...	Inger Lisa Andersson
Edward G. Robinson	...	Dr. Max Stratman / Prof. Walter Stratman
Diane Baker	...	Emily Stratman
Micheline Presle	...	Dr. Denise Marceau
Gérard Oury	...	Dr. Claude Marceau
Sergio Fantoni	...	Dr. Carlo Farelli
Kevin McCarthy	...	Dr. John Garrett
Leo G. Carroll	...	Count Bertil Jacobsson
Sacha Pitoëff	...	Daranyi, Dark Henchman (as Sacha Pitoeff)
Jacqueline Beer	...	Monique Souvir, Dr. Claude's 'Secretary'
John Wengraf	...	Hans Eckhart
Don Dubbins	...	Ivar Cramer, Light Henchman
Virginia Christine	...	Mrs. Bergh, Chaperon
Rudolph Anders	...	Mr. Rolfe Bergh - Chaperon

Storyline

For some reason, this year's Nobel prize in literature has been awarded to the young author Andrew Craig, who seems to be more interested in women and drinking than writing. Another laureate is Dr. Max Stratman, the famous German-American physicist who comes to Stockholm for the award ceremony with his young and beautiful niece Emily. The Foreign Department also assigns him an assistant during his stay, Miss Andersson. Craig soon notices that Dr. Stratman is acting strangely. The second time they meet, Dr. Stratman does not even recognize him. Craig begins to investigate.

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Plot Keywords:

nobel prize | physicist | writer | hospital | stockholm sweden | 

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Taglines:

People go to nudist meetings for various reasons...his was murder! [Video Australia]

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German Swedish

Release Date:

25 December 1963 (USA)

Also Known As:

A díj

Filming Locations:

Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden

Company Credits

Production Co:

Roxbury Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bears many plot similarities, similar scenes, and actors in common with North by Northwest due to both being written by Ernest Lehman .

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Goofs

When Andrew jumps onto the cargo net, he's (not) wearing gloves.

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Quotes

Inger Lisa Andersen: Mr. Craig, I hope you'll forgive me but in matters of sex, compared to the average Scandinavian you would be considered a mere amateur.
Andrew Craig: Miss Andersen will you marry me?
Inger Lisa Andersen: We have a saying in Sweden. Why settle for one dish when there's smorgasbord.

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Connections

Spoofs North by Northwest (1959)

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Soundtracks

"The Villa"
(uncredited)
Music by Harold Gelman

User Reviews

One of my all time favourite movies, still not released on dvd...

The Prize by Mark Robson is a hugely underrated but very entertaining movie. In fact this movie is so enjoyable that I count it among my twenty (or so) favourite movies of all time. Paul Newman (witty and recalcitrant as always) plays an American writer who is about to receive the Nobel Prize for literature in Stockholm. Although his work is highly praised, he has to make a living by writing detective novels. Known for his drinking problem and his aversion to authority the Swedish Nobel organisation provides Newman with a personal host (Elke Sommer looking prettier than ever!) to keep him from doing foolish things... and ofcourse that's exactly what happens! Newman, with his fine nose for crime, discovers a case of mistaken identity (Edward G. Robinson in a fine double role) and witnesses a murder. What happens next is very similar to other great movies from the same period of time like North By Northwest or Charade. If you like those, if you like Paul Newman or Elke Sommer or... if like me you like ALL these things than this is y