Don't worry, I won't give away many spoilers at all. This is a great piece of work. I have read that it didn't get great reviews, and I wonder why! This is as close to an action film as Marlon Brando ever did. He mostly performed in dramas, and when he did appear in action/adventure films, it was usually in a supporting role (Superman, The Score). And he totally delivers.
He plays a man named Schroeder, masquerading in India as "Robert Crain." Trevor Howard plays a British military man, who finds Schroeder in hiding, and gives him two choices: Go on a suicide mission, on a German freighter and defuse all of her scuttling charges so the Allies can take her cargo....or be turned over to the Gestapo in a prisoner exchange. So, essentially, he has to choose which way he is going to die. Except, that with the mission, he has a small prayer of coming out alive.
Yul Brynner plays the level-headed captain of the German freighter (which is loaded with political prisoners, bound for France), and is he ever at the top of his form in this one. In fact, he commands the best scene in the film...which is him reacting to an incident at sea involving his son. Janet Margolin is also haunting as a Jewish prisoner transferred to the German freighter in the middle of the voyage, and becomes part of the plans of Schroeder (called Kyle on the mission) and the political prisoners, to take over the ship from the Nazi crew.
The cinematography in this film is outstanding. We get lots of long shots of the crew on the ship, and the special effects do not look too dated...which is saying a lot, considering this is a black and white film made in the 1960's. This movie has a little bit for everyone...Fans of action films will enjoy the tenseness of the climax of the film, and fans of spy films will find a lot to like here. Brando's character is in the midst of impossible circumstances, which only get worse as the film goes on, but he always manages to keep his cool, as only Marlon Brando can. This is a must-see for Brando fans, if only to see their favorite actor take on such a role. As I have written before...this is as close to a pure action film that Brando ever made, with himself in the starring role. The plot runs very smoothly, and there aren't any lulls in the narrative. Extremely underrated picture.
He plays a man named Schroeder, masquerading in India as "Robert Crain." Trevor Howard plays a British military man, who finds Schroeder in hiding, and gives him two choices: Go on a suicide mission, on a German freighter and defuse all of her scuttling charges so the Allies can take her cargo....or be turned over to the Gestapo in a prisoner exchange. So, essentially, he has to choose which way he is going to die. Except, that with the mission, he has a small prayer of coming out alive.
Yul Brynner plays the level-headed captain of the German freighter (which is loaded with political prisoners, bound for France), and is he ever at the top of his form in this one. In fact, he commands the best scene in the film...which is him reacting to an incident at sea involving his son. Janet Margolin is also haunting as a Jewish prisoner transferred to the German freighter in the middle of the voyage, and becomes part of the plans of Schroeder (called Kyle on the mission) and the political prisoners, to take over the ship from the Nazi crew.
The cinematography in this film is outstanding. We get lots of long shots of the crew on the ship, and the special effects do not look too dated...which is saying a lot, considering this is a black and white film made in the 1960's. This movie has a little bit for everyone...Fans of action films will enjoy the tenseness of the climax of the film, and fans of spy films will find a lot to like here. Brando's character is in the midst of impossible circumstances, which only get worse as the film goes on, but he always manages to keep his cool, as only Marlon Brando can. This is a must-see for Brando fans, if only to see their favorite actor take on such a role. As I have written before...this is as close to a pure action film that Brando ever made, with himself in the starring role. The plot runs very smoothly, and there aren't any lulls in the narrative. Extremely underrated picture.