The Fixer (1968)

In Czarist Russia, around 1911, a Russian-Jewish handyman, Yakov Bok (Sir Alan Bates), is wrongly imprisoned for a most unlikely crime.

Director:

John Frankenheimer

Writers:

Bernard Malamud (novel), Dalton Trumbo (screenplay)

Stars:

Alan Bates, Dirk Bogarde, Georgia Brown

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alan Bates	...	Yakov Sepsovich Bok
Dirk Bogarde	...	Bibikov
Georgia Brown	...	Marfa Golov
Hugh Griffith	...	Lebedev
Elizabeth Hartman	...	Zinaida
Ian Holm	...	Grubeshov
David Opatoshu	...	Latke
David Warner	...	Count Odoevsky
Carol White	...	Raisl
George Murcell	...	Deputy Warden
Murray Melvin	...	Priest
Peter Jeffrey	...	Berezhinsky
Michael Goodliffe	...	Ostrovsky
Thomas Heathcote	...	Proshko
Mike Pratt	...	Father Anastasy

Storyline

Set in Czarist Russia in 1911, and based on the true story of Russian-Jewish peasant Yakov Bok (Sir Alan Bates), who was wrongly imprisoned for a most unlikely crime, the "ritual murder" of a Gentile child in Kiev. We witness the unrelenting detail of the peasant-handyman's life in prison, and see him gain in dignity as the efforts to humiliate him and make him confess fail.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | torture | secularism | anger | justice | 

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Taglines:

This is "The Fixer" who didn't know he had courage...until courage was all he had left.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

M

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 September 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

El hombre de Kiev

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios, Edward Lewis Productions, John Frankenheimer Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

132 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First movie adaptation from a Bernard Malamud novel.

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Quotes

Bibikov: The law will protect you unless you're guilty.
[closes the door]
Yakov Bok: [shouting] Guilty of what?

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Connections

Featured in Hollywoodism: Jews, Movies and the American Dream (1998)

User Reviews

A Great & Poignant Movie that I have been trying to "Purchase" for years. "Sources for obtaining this would be appreciated".

In 1969 while in Basic Training at Fort ORD, California our Company viewed this movie. Being 1969 and all that was happening at that time and as basic trainees, in an infantry company, 18 to 21 years of age, most destined for Vietnam, most had few things in our minds beyond our survival in the months to come. The strength, determination and courage in the face of oppression, constant disappointment and the insurmountable odds of survival unified all 120+ of us to a standing ovation of applause and cheering at the end. We all came from such different backgrounds, Watts, Oklahoma, East LA, Salt Lake City, Montana and Chicago. We were all of different ethnic backgrounds, Hispanic, Black, Irish, Catholic etc. None of us knew of Jewish life in Tzarist Russian. All felt a bond with "The Fixer", a victim of times, prejudice and "The System".

For many of us, the move, "The Fixer" did more than just occupy an afternoon away from military training. It connected us with a spirit, a humanness to deal with and hopefully survive adversity. To this day the other message I carry is that every act we do is a political statement. Even the act of being, "Apolitical" is a statement of politics.

A Great & Poignant Movie that should be included in everyones film experiences!