Playing for Time (1980)
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- 2h 30min
- Drama, Music
- 30 Sep 1980 (USA)
- TV Movie
Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.
Directors:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 4 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Vanessa Redgrave | ... |
Fania Fenelon
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| Jane Alexander | ... |
Alma Rose
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| Maud Adams | ... |
Mala
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| Christine Baranski | ... |
Olga
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| Robin Bartlett | ... |
Etalina
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| Marisa Berenson | ... |
Elzvieta
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| Verna Bloom | ... |
Paulette
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Donna Haley | ... |
Katrina
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Lenore Harris | ... |
Charlotte
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| Mady Kaplan | ... |
Varya
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| Will Lee | ... |
Shmuel
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| Anna Thomson | ... |
Michou
(as Anna Kluger Levine)
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| Viveca Lindfors | ... |
Frau Schmidt
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| Melanie Mayron | ... |
Marianne
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Marcell Rosenblatt | ... |
Giselle
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| Max Wright | ... |
Dr. Mengele
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| Shirley Knight | ... |
Lagerführerin Maria Mandel
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| Elaine Bromka | ... |
Tchiakowska
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Faith Catlin | ... |
Liesle
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| Clarence Felder | ... |
Commandant Kramer
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Martha Schlamme | ... |
Woman on train
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| Marta Heflin | ... |
Esther
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Dorothy Sherwood | ... |
Berta
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Grace Stover | ... |
Greta
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Sidney Sandness | ... |
Asthmatic Man
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Thomas La Fleur | ... |
Boy Scout
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| Zvee Scooler | ... |
First Chessplayer
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Thomas Everett | ... |
Second Chessplayer
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Mary Kay Fager | ... |
Polish Woman
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Mary McGonical | ... |
Tattooer
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Phyllis Vanier | ... |
Blockawa
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Monica Merriman | ... |
Canadian Girl
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Robert Lucey | ... |
Ladislaus
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Lorraine Lucey | ... |
Ladislaus' Mother
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Lee Jay Nelson | ... |
Edek
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Robert Dannon | ... |
SS Officer
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Peter Phillips | ... |
British Radio Man
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Spencer Waldron | ... |
SS Sergeant
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John Griesemer | ... |
German Trooper
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Huggy-Bear Ferris | ... |
The Executioner
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Andrew J. Arnold | ... |
Jewish Boy (uncredited)
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Al Butler | ... |
Nazi officer (uncredited)
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| Tom Everett | ... |
Young Chess Player (uncredited)
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Richard Dennis Johnson | ... |
Kapo (uncredited)
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Ron Lamb | ... |
British Soldier (uncredited)
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| Jeffrey Marcus | ... |
Rose's Husband (uncredited)
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Dennis Michael Sheppard | ... |
German NCO (uncredited)
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Eoin Stewart | ... |
British Radio Operator (uncredited)
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| Rick Washburn | ... |
Prisoner (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Daniel Mann | ||
| Joseph Sargent | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Arthur Miller | ... | (written by) |
| Fania Fénelon | ... | (autobiography: "The Musicians of Auschwitz") |
Produced by
| John E. Quill | ... | co-producer (as John Quill) |
| Louise Ramsay | ... | associate producer |
| Bernard Sofronski | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Linda Yellen | ... | executive producer / producer |
Music by
| Brad Fiedel | ||
Cinematography by
| Arthur J. Ornitz | ... | director of photography (as Arthur Ornitz) |
Editing by
| Jay Freund | ||
| Ralph Rosenblum | ... | (editorial supervision) |
Editorial Department
| Nancy Attas | ... | second assistant editor |
| Ken Eluto | ... | first assistant editor |
Casting By
| Lynn Kressel | ||
Art Direction by
| Robert Gundlach | ||
Set Decoration by
| Gary Jones | ||
Costume Design by
| Ruth Morley | ||
Makeup Department
| Gabriel Borgo | ... | hair designer |
| Mike Maggi | ... | makeup artist (as Michael Maggi) |
Production Management
| John E. Quill | ... | production manager (as John Quill) |
| Stan Rogow | ... | executive in charge of production |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Sol Fol | ... | first assistant director |
| Dennis Stuart Murphy | ... | second assistant director (as Dennis Murphy) |
Art Department
| Wally Adee | ... | set dresser (as Walter Adee) |
| William Canfield | ... | property master (as Billie Canfield) |
| Elouise Meyer | ... | scenic artist (as Eloise Meyer) |
| Louise Krozek | ... | scenic artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Jack Higgins | ... | recording: Magnasound |
| Ron Kalish | ... | sound editor |
| David Moshlak | ... | sound |
Special Effects by
| Michael Bird | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Harry Daley | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Louis Cappeta | ... | grip (as Lou Cappeto) |
| Willie Meyerhoff | ... | gaffer (as Willi Meyerhof) |
| William H. Steiner | ... | camera operator (as William Steiner) |
| Donald Sweeney | ... | camera operator (as Don Sweeney) |
| Joseph Di Pasquale | ... | first assistant camera (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Marilyn Bishop | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Jennifer Nichols | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Eoin Stewart | ... | historic costume consultant (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Edwin 'Itsi' Atkins | ... | location manager (as Edwin C. Atkins) |
Music Department
| Brad Fiedel | ... | musician: synthesized sounds |
| Norman Gold | ... | conductor: camp orchestral music / music arranger: camp orchestral music |
Script and Continuity Department
| Maggie James | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Walter Charleston | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Sarah Carson | ... | production office coordinator |
| Robin Goldsmith | ... | assistant to the producer |
| Dana Keefer | ... | assistant to the producer |
| Kathleen McGill | ... | auditor: Production Services Ltd |
| Linda H. Miller | ... | location auditor |
| Steve Reichl | ... | special publicity |
| Arnold Skolnick | ... | title designer |
| Lynn Redmond | ... | stand-in: Marisa Berenson (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Nancy Casey | ... | special thanks: Pennsylvania Division of Film Promotion |
| Dick De Bona | ... | special thanks: Pennsylvania Division of Film Promotion |
| Ralph Friedman | ... | special thanks: Pennsylvania Division of Film Promotion |
Production Companies
Distributors
- CBS (1980) (United States) (tv)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1982) (Finland) (tv) (as MTV1)
- Chrysalis (1984) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Media Home Entertainment (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- VCL Communications (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- VCL (1984) (Australia) (video)
- In Video (Norway) (VHS)
- Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
- MCA Home Video (1988) (Canada) (VHS)
- Virgin Vision (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- Olive Films (2010) (Canada) (DVD) (home video and digital/streaming)
- Olive Films (2010) (United States) (DVD) (home video and digital/streaming)
- Rekete Entertainment (2019) (Spain)
- Topanga Canyon Films (2021) (Spain)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- EFX Unlimited (opticals)
- Magnasound Inc. (recording)
- Magnofex (sound editing)
- Movielab (color)
- Opera Mundi (copyright owner: by permission of)
- Panavision (camera and lenses by)
- Pennsylvania Department of Military Affairs (special thanks)
- Production Services (auditor)
- Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting (bits and extras)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In World War II, the Jewish French musician and cabaret singer Fania Fenelon Goldstein is sent by the Nazis from Paris to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The guards take her clothing and luggage and they cut her hair very short. One day, when she is very weak, she hears someone asking whether any prisoner could sing Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly and she joins the group of musicians that have been spared from the gas chambers to entertain the Nazis performing music for them. She convinces the conductor Alma Rose to invite her friend Marianne, telling that she would be a talented singer. Along the years of abusive treatment, they survive but losing their dignity. Written by Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The real Fania Fenelon was upset over the casting of Dame Vanessa Redgrave due to her support of the Palestine Liberation Organization. See more » |
| Goofs | Upon joining the camp orchestra, Fania Fenelon (Vanessa Redgrave) is asked by the women's commandant for her shoe size. Fenelon replies with the American shoe size "9", whereas in reality she would have given the European equivalent size of 40. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981). See more » |
| Soundtracks | J'Attendrai See more » |
| Quotes |
Alma Rose:
We must constantly raise the level of our playing, or I really don't know how long they will tolerate us. See more » |