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Vartija

Original title: The Sentinel
  • 19771977
  • RR
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
Vartija (1977)
Trailer 1
Play trailer2:36
1 Video
99+ Photos
Horror

A young woman moves into an apartment in a building which houses a sinister evil.A young woman moves into an apartment in a building which houses a sinister evil.A young woman moves into an apartment in a building which houses a sinister evil.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
11K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Winner
  • Writers
    • Jeffrey Konvitz(novel)
    • Michael Winner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Cristina Raines
    • Ava Gardner
    • Chris Sarandon
  • Director
    • Michael Winner
  • Writers
    • Jeffrey Konvitz(novel)
    • Michael Winner(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Cristina Raines
    • Ava Gardner
    • Chris Sarandon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 149User reviews
    • 97Critic reviews
    • 19Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations

    Videos1

    The Sentinel
    Trailer 2:36
    Watch The Sentinel

    Photos101

    Beverly D'Angelo and Sylvia Miles in Vartija (1977)
    Cristina Raines in Vartija (1977)
    Cristina Raines in Vartija (1977)
    José Ferrer and Cristina Raines in Vartija (1977)
    Vartija (1977)
    Beverly D'Angelo in Vartija (1977)
    Richard Dreyfuss and Cristina Raines in Vartija (1977)
    Cristina Raines in Vartija (1977)
    Tom Berenger and Nana Visitor in Vartija (1977)
    Burgess Meredith and Sylvia Miles in Vartija (1977)
    John Carradine and Arthur Kennedy in Vartija (1977)
    Bob Melvin and Burgess Meredith in Vartija (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cristina Raines
    Cristina Raines
    • Alison Parker
    Ava Gardner
    Ava Gardner
    • Miss Logan
    Chris Sarandon
    Chris Sarandon
    • Michael Lerman
    Martin Balsam
    Martin Balsam
    • Professor Ruzinsky
    John Carradine
    John Carradine
    • Father Halliran
    José Ferrer
    José Ferrer
    • Robed Figure
    Arthur Kennedy
    Arthur Kennedy
    • Monsignor Franchino
    Burgess Meredith
    Burgess Meredith
    • Charles Chazen
    Sylvia Miles
    Sylvia Miles
    • Gerde
    Deborah Raffin
    Deborah Raffin
    • Jennifer
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • Detective Gatz
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Detective Rizzo
    Jerry Orbach
    Jerry Orbach
    • Film Director
    Beverly D'Angelo
    Beverly D'Angelo
    • Sandra
    Hank Garrett
    Hank Garrett
    • Brenner
    Robert Gerringer
    Robert Gerringer
    • Hart
    Nana Visitor
    Nana Visitor
    • Girl at End
    • (as Nana Tucker)
    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Man at end
    • Director
      • Michael Winner
    • Writers
      • Jeffrey Konvitz(novel) (screenplay)
      • Michael Winner(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jeff Goldblum was dubbed in all but one scene.
    • Goofs
      (at around 4 mins) When Allison is filming a shampoo commercial, she and another model are seen whipping their hair around. The footage was reversed, so the actresses' hair is moving backwards.
    • Quotes

      Michael Lerman: It's all right. Listen, listen. I know everything now. The Latin you saw in that book was an ancient warning from the angel Gabriel to the angel Uriel.

      Alison Parker: Michael, what are you talking about?

      Michael Lerman: The angel Uriel was stationed at the entrance to Eden to guard it from the devil. Since that time a long line of guardians... sentinels, have guarded the world against evil. Right now it's Father Halliran upstairs. But tonight YOU become the next sentinel. All the people you saw here, the old man, the lesbians... all of them are reincarnations. Devils. The only way they can stop the new sentinal is to make you commit suicide. That's what they were trying to do.

      Alison Parker: [with growing fear and terror] Michael? I don't...

      Michael Lerman: You don't understand? I'm dead. I was killed a short while ago by Monsignor Franchino for trying to strangle Father Halliran. I'm damned to enternal Hell for my sins. For having Brenner murder my wife so I can be with you. And for killing Brenner to tie up loose ends. I am one of the legion of the dead!

    • Alternate versions
      The 1987 '18' rated UK video on the CIC label was the original cinema version. The later '15' rated release by Universal on the 4-Front label is the heavily edited US TV version. The 2008 Fremantle DVD features the original unedited version.
    • Connections
      Featured in Coming Soon (1982)

    User reviews149

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    This movie is a classic in psychological horror!
    I have read the book and I must say that this movie stays true to form. I think this is the beginning of the psychological thrillers in the same genre of Psycho. Cristina Raines gives an excellent performance as the lead, and Burgess Meredith gives an excellent supporting actor as the next-door neighbor. I have seen this movie at least twice and I think that I am going to buy both the book and the movie for my collection. The suspense just keeps building up to the climatic end, the twist you will never see coming. If you like movies like Signs and The Village, the Sentinel will be a classic prelude. Also, what is interesting is the actors in the movie-you would not recognize them if you did not read the credits. The late Jerry Orbach is great as the commercial director and Jeff Goldblum is excellent as the photographer. Also there is Beverly D'Angelo, who is underrated but great.
    helpful•38
    16
    • pamela-graham
    • Mar 25, 2005

    FAQ2

    • Were those really Human Oddities (Freaks) in the climax?
    • Was Cristina Raines actually a fashion model?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 11, 1977 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • The Sentinel
    • Filming locations
      • 10 Montague Terrace, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Jeffrey Konvitz Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,700,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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