IMDb RATING
7.1/10
9.1K
YOUR RATING
The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.The lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 1 win & 7 nominations total
John Alderson
- Cpl. Kraus
- (uncredited)
John Banner
- German Town Mayor
- (uncredited)
Stephen Bekassy
- German Major
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMontgomery Clift was widely felt to look too old and unhealthy to be an A1 soldier. Although Clift was only 36 during filming, this was the first full film he had made since his near-fatal 1956 car accident (it occurred during filming of Raintree County (1957)), which had drastically altered his appearance.
- GoofsEarly in the movie, Marlon Brando's character is riding in some sort of staff car. The car is right-hand drive; the Germans did not use right-hand drive. However, the staff car is a French-made Laffly V15T, which is, indeed, right-hand drive and was used by the French Army in WWII. The vehicle was probably captured from the French Army.
- Quotes
Michael Whiteacre: You want me to get shot. Look, I've read all the books. I know that in 10 years we'll be bosom friends with the Germans and the Japanese. Then I'll be pretty annoyed that I was killed.
- ConnectionsFeatured in V.I.P.-Schaukel: Episode #8.2 (1978)
Featured review
I have seen this movie several times and catch something different every time I see it. Today is the first time I've seen it from the beginning. In the context of the time it was made, it was a bold statement about the human factor in any war. Brando shines and plays a sympathetic character who sees first hand the evil that men do in the name of patriotism.
Made at a time when the Americans that liberated the concentration camps were in their prime and there weren't any idiots running around claiming it was a lie, we see how ordinary citizens respond to the unthinkable. Brando's character stands in for the citizens of the Reich who claimed they were clueless about the genocide while the ashes from the smokestacks fell like snow on their towns. We see the horror and the denial.
It briefly explores a major taboo--interracial/interfaith marriages. It looks at racism in the context of anti-Semitcism (unfortunately still alive and well in America) and one man's courage in opposing it. Ironic this brand of racism, as the founder of the prevelant religion in America was a Jewish rabbi.
This movie is worth the 3 hours of time; it would make a great set piece with "Judgement at Nuremberg" which also showcases the talents of many of the actors from this film.
Good acting from all players in this film. It presages Robert Altman with the interweaving of the characters' lives from the first shot where Barbara Rush and Brando debate the merits of the Fatherland to the last scene in the forest where the end comes full circle.
Made at a time when the Americans that liberated the concentration camps were in their prime and there weren't any idiots running around claiming it was a lie, we see how ordinary citizens respond to the unthinkable. Brando's character stands in for the citizens of the Reich who claimed they were clueless about the genocide while the ashes from the smokestacks fell like snow on their towns. We see the horror and the denial.
It briefly explores a major taboo--interracial/interfaith marriages. It looks at racism in the context of anti-Semitcism (unfortunately still alive and well in America) and one man's courage in opposing it. Ironic this brand of racism, as the founder of the prevelant religion in America was a Jewish rabbi.
This movie is worth the 3 hours of time; it would make a great set piece with "Judgement at Nuremberg" which also showcases the talents of many of the actors from this film.
Good acting from all players in this film. It presages Robert Altman with the interweaving of the characters' lives from the first shot where Barbara Rush and Brando debate the merits of the Fatherland to the last scene in the forest where the end comes full circle.
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $3,550,000 (estimated)
- Gross worldwide
- $9,363
- Runtime2 hours 47 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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