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Two Half-Times in Hell

Original title: Két félidö a pokolban
  • 1961
  • 2h 20m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
1.4K
YOUR RATING
Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
DramaSportWar

On Hitler's birthday, the Germans decide to organize a soccer match between prisoners of war and Germans.On Hitler's birthday, the Germans decide to organize a soccer match between prisoners of war and Germans.On Hitler's birthday, the Germans decide to organize a soccer match between prisoners of war and Germans.

  • Director
    • Zoltán Fábri
  • Writers
    • Péter Bacsó
    • Zoltán Fábri
  • Stars
    • Imre Sinkovits
    • Dezsö Garas
    • László Márkus
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    1.4K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Zoltán Fábri
    • Writers
      • Péter Bacsó
      • Zoltán Fábri
    • Stars
      • Imre Sinkovits
      • Dezsö Garas
      • László Márkus
    • 2User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Photos11

    Dezsö Garas and Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Dezsö Garas in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)
    Dezsö Garas and Imre Sinkovits in Two Half-Times in Hell (1961)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Imre Sinkovits
    Imre Sinkovits
    • Ónódi
    Dezsö Garas
    • Steiner
    László Márkus
    • Pogány
    Tibor Molnár
    • Rácz
    János Koltai
    János Koltai
    • Géza
    Gyula Benkö
    Gyula Benkö
    • Sztepan
    Sándor Suka
    • Koczina
    Zoltán Gera
    Zoltán Gera
    • Tankó Sándor
    István Velenczei
    • Ferenczi
    József Horváth
    • Szabó szakaszvezetõ
    András Komlós
    • Balogh
    Gyula Szilágyi
    Tamás Végvári
    • Pál Tankó
    János Rajz
    • Lipták
    János Görbe
    János Görbe
    • Eberhardt
    István Egri
    • Hollander dr.
    Bertalan Solti
    • Agárdi
    László Misoga
    • Siska
    • Director
      • Zoltán Fábri
    • Writers
      • Péter Bacsó
      • Zoltán Fábri
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film takes place in April 1944.
    • Connections
      Remade as Victory (1981)

    User reviews2

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Fantasy football.
    On 6th August 1942 a team of Ukrainian prisoners of war comprising mainly former professional footballers played a team representing National Socialist Germany. The Ukrainians won 5-1. Three days later a 'revenge' match was played, attended by 2000 spectators, in which the Ukrainians again emerged victorious to the tune of 5-3.

    In 1946 the myth of the 'Death Match' emerged in Stalin's Russia(where else?) which claimed that the Ukrainian players were killed by the Nazis as a punishment for winning. This myth was further perpetrated under Brezhnev in the 1960's but has long since been discredited.

    Whether or not director Zoltán Fabrí regarded the 'Death Match' as fact or fiction, he and his co-writer Péter Dacsó have used it as inspiration for this simply splendid film which they have transposed to an Hungarian labour camp.

    In order to celebrate the birthday of Hitler, affectionately referred to by the prisoners as the 'house painter', a football match is to be played between the prisoners and a German team. Onódi, the only professional footballer in the camp, is given the well-nigh Herculean task of cobbling together and training from scratch a raggle-taggle team. He agrees to do this in exchange for his players receiving better food rations. To cut a long story short the prisoners have somehow managed to level the game at 3-3 when the impartial Italian referee awards them a penalty. Already under sentence of death for having tried to escape, the team knows that if Onódi scores the winning goal the chances of survival are slim. Will he take the penalty.......?

    I have only recently discovered Zoltán Fabrí and my admiration for his skills increases with each one I see. His films show a grasp of character, sense of composition and an unbeatable combination of measured pace and momentum. He has here the services of his favoured Ferencné Szécsényi behind the camera and a tremendous cast headed by Imre Sinkovits as Onódi, none of whom is ever caught 'acting'.

    There are those who say that Football brings people together but from what I have observed of fans' behaviour, it would seem to have the opposite effect. In Fabrí's film of course it is not just a game but literally a matter of Life and Death.

    Subsequent versions cannot hold a candle to this one and that it has thus far only attracted two reviews(including mine!) is deeply depressing.
    helpful•1
    0
    • brogmiller
    • Aug 22, 2021

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 2, 1961 (Hungary)
    • Country of origin
      • Hungary
    • Languages
      • Hungarian
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Zwei Halbzeiten in der Hölle
    • Production company
      • Hunnia Filmgyár
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 20 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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