Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Michael Powell's book, "Million Dollar Movie," composer Mikis Theodorakis considered it shameful that a story about Cretan resistance fighters would be told by anyone other than Cretans. He told Powell and Emeric Pressburger that they were both political interlopers, a label he also used in describing Sir Patrick Leigh-Fermor.
- GoofsWhile waiting to ambush the General's car, another vehicle is heard approaching. Elias listens, the pronounces that it is a Volkswagen. While Volkswagen GmbH was technically in existence at the time, the vehicle in question wouldn't have been called a Volkswagen---it was known as a Kubelwagen (bucket-car), while the better-known Beetle was a KDF-wagen.
- Quotes
Maj. Patrick Leigh Fermor aka Philedem: Field Marshal Rommel won't be in Cairo but you will be!
- Alternate versionsThe UK version of the film, titled "Ill Met by Moonlight", is 11 minutes longer than the version originally released in American markets.
- ConnectionsReferenced in The South Bank Show: Michael Powell (1986)
Featured review
Pretty ordinary
A group comprised of British soldiers stranded in Crete and local partisans decide to try something quite bold--kidnap the Nazi in charge of the island. Very little of the film actually involves the setup for the kidnapping and the actual event takes place somewhat uneventfully. The bulk of the film consists of a cross-country trek with the prisoner to try to spirit him out of the country.
I decided to watch this film because I love the acting of Dirk Bogarde--plus, it being a Powell/Pressberger film didn't hurt. However, my overall impression was pretty unexceptional. Now I am not saying it's a bad film. The acting is fine and the direction seemed good as well. The problem, however, is that the story just never seemed all that interesting--even though it is based on the actual kidnapping of a German general by partisans during WWII. Competent but not enough to merit its being seen as anything more than a moderately interesting time-passer.
I decided to watch this film because I love the acting of Dirk Bogarde--plus, it being a Powell/Pressberger film didn't hurt. However, my overall impression was pretty unexceptional. Now I am not saying it's a bad film. The acting is fine and the direction seemed good as well. The problem, however, is that the story just never seemed all that interesting--even though it is based on the actual kidnapping of a German general by partisans during WWII. Competent but not enough to merit its being seen as anything more than a moderately interesting time-passer.
helpful•69
- planktonrules
- Mar 20, 2010
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- £212,019 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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