indoor INDIANA JONES. a total blast, better every time.
Directed by Billy Wilder
During the 1942 North African campaign, a British straggler passes as a waiter at the hotel commandeered as Erwin Rommel's headquarters. He has thoughts of assassinating Rommel but his cover may provide an even better use.
Five Graves to Cairo is showing in 1 cinema in London - next screening Tuesday 3 November at 18:20 at BFI Southbank.
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indoor INDIANA JONES. a total blast, better every time.
Action! - Three Auteurs: The Witty and Eclectic Mr. WilderTechnically speaking, Billy Wilder's dive into the much serious, thrilling world as a director is not bad and has its good points to its credit. Stroheim is brilliant and slightly terrifying as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, while Franchot Tone as our leading man is quite good, with good chemistry with Baxter. And the cinematography is undeniably one of the film's strongest points, particularly in the way it makes use of shadows to create a sense of suspense or cool small details like when a flashlight is dropped and the camera only focuses on the light while the rest of the frame is in complete darkness. The writing is actually rather good.Personally, the picture severely lacked the suspense and tension that are essential to a good thriller. It's there at times, but I've never found it to be really effective. The characters are also forgettable.All in all, an interesting film from an historical perspective, but that’s about it for me.TODAY SCHEDULEBlack SlideA Dash of LoveProphet's PreyDeath MillsFive Graves to Cairo
A British officer is left behind enemy lines after Rommel's rapid advance in Sahara and hides out at a desert hotel, where he assumes the identity of a recently deceased employee. When German troops arrive there he tries to collect information without blowing his cover.That's what means to be a great auteur: take what initially was planned to be a propaganda film and transform it into an exciting, enjoyable romp that holds up admirably even today. Billy Wilder's fingerprints are all over "Five Graves to Cairo", whether we are talking about the spirited dialogue or his light, but deft, directorial touch. War might be hell, but that doesn't mean that it's devoid of humor. The final twist is of course outlandish but the rest of the movie is so entertaining that nobody will care. Besides Wilder's talent as a storyteller, what elevates this feature above other of its kind from the same era is the excellent cast. Eric Von Stroheim has no problem stealing the show as a flamboyant Rommel. Whenever he is onscreen, the film's energy goes to 11. Franchot Tone is a bit colorless as the lead but the supporting cast picks up the slack, so no damage done here.Wilder's decision to lay off the propaganda and try to tell a compelling story is what makes "Fives Graves to Cairo" such a watchable affair. Despite not being one of his most heralded movies, it's well worth your time, even more so if you are a fan of WWII flicks.
During the 1942 North African campaign, a British soldier stranded in the desert poses as a waiter at a hotel serving as Erwin Rommel's headquarters.
Billy Wilder directed the 1943 war thriller, marking his second feature film behind the camera.
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