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IMDbPro

Castle Keep

  • 19691969
  • RR
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,203
1,590
Burt Lancaster in Castle Keep (1969)
Official Trailer
Play trailer3:25
1 Video
57 Photos
ActionComedyDrama
During the Battle of the Bulge, an anachronistic count shelters a ragtag squad of Americans in his remote 10th Century castle hoping a battle there against the advancing Germans will not lea... Read allDuring the Battle of the Bulge, an anachronistic count shelters a ragtag squad of Americans in his remote 10th Century castle hoping a battle there against the advancing Germans will not lead to its destruction and all the heritage within.During the Battle of the Bulge, an anachronistic count shelters a ragtag squad of Americans in his remote 10th Century castle hoping a battle there against the advancing Germans will not lead to its destruction and all the heritage within.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
19,203
1,590
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • William Eastlake(based on the novel by)
      • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
      • David Rayfiel(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Patrick O'Neal
      • Jean-Pierre Aumont
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • William Eastlake(based on the novel by)
      • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
      • David Rayfiel(screenplay)
    • Stars
      • Burt Lancaster
      • Patrick O'Neal
      • Jean-Pierre Aumont
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 60User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Castle Keep
    Trailer 3:25
    Castle Keep

    Photos57

    Burt Lancaster and Peter Falk in Castle Keep (1969)
    Burt Lancaster and Peter Falk in Castle Keep (1969)
    Burt Lancaster, Peter Falk, and Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Burt Lancaster and Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Burt Lancaster and Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Jean-Pierre Aumont and Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Burt Lancaster and Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Astrid Heeren in Castle Keep (1969)
    Peter Falk in Castle Keep (1969)
    Patrick O'Neal in Castle Keep (1969)
    Olga Bisera in Castle Keep (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Burt Lancaster
    Burt Lancaster
    • Maj. Abraham Falconer
    Patrick O'Neal
    Patrick O'Neal
    • Capt. Lionel Beckman
    Jean-Pierre Aumont
    Jean-Pierre Aumont
    • Henri Tixier, Count of Maldorais
    Peter Falk
    Peter Falk
    • Sgt. Rossi
    Astrid Heeren
    Astrid Heeren
    • Therese de Maldorais
    Scott Wilson
    Scott Wilson
    • Cpl. Clearboy
    Tony Bill
    Tony Bill
    • Lt. Amberjack
    Al Freeman Jr.
    Al Freeman Jr.
    • Pvt. Allistair Piersall Benjamin
    James Patterson
    James Patterson
    • Elk
    Bruce Dern
    Bruce Dern
    • Lt. Billy Byron Bix
    Michael Conrad
    Michael Conrad
    • Sgt. DeVaca
    Caterina Boratto
    Caterina Boratto
    • Red Queen
    Olga Bisera
    • Baker's Wife
    • (as Bisera)
    Elizabeth Teissier
    Elizabeth Teissier
    • Red Queen Girl
    Anne Marie Moskovenko
    • Red Queen Girl
    Merja Alanen
    • Red Queen Girl
    Eija Pokkinen
    • Red Queen Girl
    • (as Eya Tuli)
    Elizabeth Darius
    • Red Queen Girl
    • Director
      • Sydney Pollack
    • Writers
      • William Eastlake(based on the novel by)
      • Daniel Taradash(screenplay)
      • David Rayfiel(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The castle set in Yugoslavia blew up and burned to the ground. It was quite a surprise to the cast and crew. Sydney Pollack immediately grabbed the camera and shot what he could of the burning castle.
    • Goofs
      In a very typical mistake for the period, the "German" tanks are all ex-Soviet T-34-85. German tanks were simply unavailable, but no attempts were made other than painting them Grey, which was also incorrect for the period.
    • Quotes

      Sfc. Rossie Baker: If we get caught, can they shoot us for wearing a German tank?

    • Connections
      Featured in The Last Detail (1973)

    User reviews60

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A 20th century war in a 10th century castle.
    Burt Lancaster leads the able cast assembled here for a WWII tale of an eyepatch wearing Major and his team of quirky characters, who take over the isolated Belgian castle of a Count played by Jean-Pierre Aumont. They are determined to defend it from the Germans, even as the war is starting to move towards a conclusion. The Captain on the team, a man named Beckman (Patrick O'Neal), knows that he would rather the Nazis not get their hands on the vast treasures taking up space inside this castle.

    "Castle Keep" is based on a novel by William Eastlake, and is directed by Sydney Pollack, the latter making one of his more intriguing films. It does come off as a bit pretentious and self-consciously "arty" at times, but at the same time does make some interesting parallels between art and war. Beckman, in fact, tries to drive this idea home to a rather disinterested bunch of soldiers, as he gives them a lecture on art history.

    This picture does become more conventional as it goes along, delivering some genuinely intense battle scenes that are pretty exciting. Overall, it's still more of a war drama "for the thinking person", albeit with some memorable absurdist humour. (Scott Wilson plays a Private named Clearboy who becomes enamoured of a Volkswagen, and saves it from receiving a death sentence.)

    Lancaster is efficient as always, in a rather unsympathetic role, but concedes the major acting showcases to under-rated actors such as O'Neal and Al Freeman Jr. (as the Private with literary aspirations), and the typically amusing Peter Falk as a Sergeant who temporarily puts fighting on hold to pursue his more valued vocation of baker. The excellent ensemble also includes the gorgeous Astrid Heeren as the Countess, Tony Bill as the serious-minded Lieutenant, James Patterson as the "Indian" soldier Elk, Bruce Dern as a conscientious objector who's found religion, and Michael Conrad as Sergeant DeVaca.

    This viewer would agree that "Castle Keep" is not for all tastes. However, it does provide a striking and surreal alternative to the traditional war film.

    Seven out of 10.
    helpful•6
    1
    • Hey_Sweden
    • Sep 13, 2019

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1969 (Italy)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Das Schloß in den Ardennen
    • Filming locations
      • Novi Sad, Serbia
    • Production companies
      • Filmways Pictures
      • Avala Film
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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