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IMDbPro

Murphy's War

  • 19711971
  • GPGP
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
Peter O'Toole in Murphy's War (1971)
DramaWar
A lone survivor from a British naval ship is obsessed with getting revenge on a German U-boat crew that massacred his shipmates in the water.A lone survivor from a British naval ship is obsessed with getting revenge on a German U-boat crew that massacred his shipmates in the water.A lone survivor from a British naval ship is obsessed with getting revenge on a German U-boat crew that massacred his shipmates in the water.
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
3.5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter Yates
  • Writers
    • Max Catto(novel)
    • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Siân Phillips
    • Philippe Noiret
  • Director
    • Peter Yates
  • Writers
    • Max Catto(novel)
    • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Peter O'Toole
    • Siân Phillips
    • Philippe Noiret
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos146

    Peter O'Toole and Philippe Noiret in Murphy's War (1971)
    Peter O'Toole and Philippe Noiret in Murphy's War (1971)
    Horst Janson in Murphy's War (1971)
    Murphy's War (1971)
    Siân Phillips in Murphy's War (1971)
    Peter O'Toole and Siân Phillips in Murphy's War (1971)
    Murphy's War (1971)
    Peter O'Toole and Philippe Noiret in Murphy's War (1971)
    Siân Phillips in Murphy's War (1971)
    Horst Janson in Murphy's War (1971)
    Murphy's War (1971)
    Peter O'Toole and Philippe Noiret in Murphy's War (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Peter O'Toole
    Peter O'Toole
    • Murphy
    Siân Phillips
    Siân Phillips
    • Hayden
    • (as Sian Phillips)
    Philippe Noiret
    Philippe Noiret
    • Brezan
    Horst Janson
    Horst Janson
    • Lauchs
    John Hallam
    John Hallam
    • Ellis
    Ingo Mogendorf
    • Voght
    John Clifford
    • Submarine Crewman
    • (uncredited)
    Harry Fielder
    Harry Fielder
    • German Sub Crewman
    • (uncredited)
    George Roubicek
    George Roubicek
    • U-Boat Crewman
    • (uncredited)
    Bob Simmons
    Bob Simmons
    • member of German sub crew
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Peter Yates
    • Writers
      • Max Catto(novel)
      • Stirling Silliphant(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The part of the U-Boat was played by a Venezuelan submarine, the former USS Tilefish (SS-307). The floating crane was, itself, a former WW2 tank landing craft.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 17 mins) There is modern-day traffic on the far right of the screen crossing a high bridge just above the tree-line.
    • Quotes

      Brezan: Man is only truly alive when he confronts death.

      Murphy: He can also be truly dead.

    • Alternate versions
      The original UK cinema version was cut by the BBFC to remove 2 uses of the word 'fuck' and to edit shots of bloody shootings and dead bodies for an 'A' (PG) certificate. The 12-rated UK DVD release restores the gunshot scenes but also has the swear words blanked out, and an inferior 4:3 transfer.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Flying Doctors: Million-Acre Prison (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      My Hat's on the Side of My Head
      (uncredited)

      Written by Harry M. Woods and Claude Hulbert

      Performed by Roy Fox

      Played on the gramophone

    User reviews52

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Revenge, and the Lone Survivor
    It arises in every war. Destruction on a grand scale and then a private battle on a more secular stage. "In every massacre" quotes the sage, "there is always a survivor." Such is the premise in the film "Murphy's War." During the final months of World War Two, a German U-Boat commander, (Horst Janson) cruising the South American coast line, attacks and sinks a British ship of war, killing all aboard. Examining the ship's wreckage, the German commander is satisfied he not only destroyed the English ship, but did in fact kill the entire crew. Leaving the carnage behind, the audience realizes an English sailor from the stricken ship, survived. His name is Murphy, brilliantly played by Peter O'Toole. Having lived through the terrifying ordeal, many would believe, one should be glad to be alive and to seek a safe distance between himself and the deadly submarine. That is not the conclusion of seaman Murphy who believes the only way he will be able to rid himself of the nightmarish screams of his dying comrades is to seek out and destroy the German U-Boat. This might be a death-wish to some, but not to Murphy who believes that regardless of the inevitable outcome of the war, his sole purpose in life is revenge. Trying to convince him of this mad adventure is Dr. Hayden (Sian Phillips) a female doctor working among the tribal people of the Amazon. In addition, Murphy not only discovers a repairable English sea-plane, but an amiable, aging and exhausted Oil company employee, named Louis Brezon. (Philippe Noiret) Louie has worked in the forgotten, backwaters of the Amazon for years, patiently waiting the end of the war. Now with Murphy seeking his help and relentless revenge, Louie offer's a bit of sound advice. "You're a small and lonely man Murphy, like me, the world will never build us a monument. The only difference is; I know that." Thus the confrontation between the obsessed man and the powerful Submarine easilly become classic drama. ****
    helpful•24
    10
    • thinker1691
    • Apr 5, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 15, 1971 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Marfijev rat
    • Filming locations
      • Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela(river scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Michael Deeley-Peter Yates Films
      • London Screenplays
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $5,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 47 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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