Murphy's War (1971)

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.

Director:

Peter Yates

Writers:

Max Catto (novel), Stirling Silliphant (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter O'Toole, Siân Phillips, Philippe Noiret

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter O'Toole	...	Murphy
Siân Phillips	...	Hayden (as Sian Phillips)
Philippe Noiret	...	Brezan
Horst Janson	...	Lauchs
John Hallam	...	Ellis
Ingo Mogendorf	...	Voght

Storyline

Murphy is the sole survivor of his crew, that has been massacred by a German U-Boat in the closing days of World War II. He lands on the shore somewhere on the river Orinoco delta and begins to plot his vengeance. He wishes to sink the U-Boat that has floated up by means of any method imaginable to him, and sets about to make the courageous attempt, assisted by Louie, the islands Government Administrator.

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Plot Keywords:

sole survivor | seaplane | submarine | torpedo | revenge | 

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Taglines:

World War Two was just ending. World War Murphy is about to begin.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

27 January 1971 (France)

Also Known As:

La guerre de Murphy

Filming Locations:

Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures Corporation, Michael Deeley-Peter Yates Films, London Screenplays

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first time that Peter O'toole played an Irishman on the big screen.

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Goofs

When the submarine is submerged and stuck on the bank she tries to reverse off and you can hear her diesel engines revving which is impossible as no snorkel was above the surface. Only the electric motors could have been used.

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Quotes

Hayden: Turn around!
Murphy: Do you not have a gentleman doctor?
Hayden: Turn around!
Murphy: Yes Sir.

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Connections

Referenced in The Flying Doctors: Million-Acre Prison (1986)

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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 Reviews

A memorable tale of the best kind of hero...a flawed one

Murphy's War is one of my top 50 most loved films, and I've watched A LOT of films, in all genres. When a film with a straightforward narrative, and a relatively simple plot with very few characters can rivet you to your seat right until the end, you have a hell of a story on your hands! The wide 2.35:1 format and outstanding cinematography by Oscar winner Douglas Slocombe are ideally matched to the location and type of action. And the reviewer who thinks the role of Murphy isn't suited for Peter O'Toole should have his head examined! O'Toole IS Murphy as much as he IS Lawrence of Arabia. Murphy's progression deeper and deeper into a vengeance-clouded mania is masterfully accomplished; he's in good company here, along with Gregory Peck's Captain Ahab in Moby Dick, Spencer Tracy's Old Man in The Old Man and the Sea, and Robert Shaw's Captain Quint in Jaws, O'Toole's tenacious Irishman Murphy is an inspiration easily absorbed and applied to all situations in which one may be considered the underdog by a wide margin. In other words, Murphy isn't an ironic post modern anti-hero. He's the old fashioned everyman, overcoming incredible odds to achieve his ends kind of hero. One could critique the film from sociological or psychological perspectives, and question whether the screenwriter intended for Murphy to symbolize the evil war can bring out in man, or the greatness, or both. But without reading anything into it, Murphy's War is on a primary level simply a terrific action yarn, well worth owning on DVD.