IMDb RATING
7.4/10
5.2K
YOUR RATING
Germans kidnap an American Major and try to convince him that World War II is over so they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him.Germans kidnap an American Major and try to convince him that World War II is over so they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him.Germans kidnap an American Major and try to convince him that World War II is over so they can get details about the Allied invasion of Europe out of him.
Oscar Beregi Jr.
- Lt. Colonel Ostermann
- (as Oscar Beregi)
Featured reviews
This is one of my all-time favorite films. Fortunately, we have a video store near us where I can rent old films like this and enjoy the creative story whenever I choose. The main plot of this story, along with the various subplots, held my interest from the beginning. After seeing the film just once, I could recall so many of the details because the film is just THAT GOOD! It is a well-casted film and one that I wish would be shown on TV (I can't recall the last time it was) so that others could become aware of this really suspenseful film. I've rented this movie for my kids and my husband to see because it hasn't been televised and I wanted them to be able to experience the same riveting viewing experience that I've enjoyed so many times.
It wasn't a blockbuster, but is haunting. I still remember the first time I saw it, and remember it every time I ... well, I don't want to reveal any plot points. But it is probably one of the films that triggered my love of mysteries.
Great, offbeat WWII thriller from The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Genre. If you've ever wondered where the Sgt. Schultz character developed from Hogan's Heroes - watch and be surprised! Tight Script and excellent performances from Saint, Taylor, and Garner. Filmed in B & W to enhance the intensity.
As a matter of record, there were hundreds of soldiers who returned to the States with little memory of what their role was in World War Two. Here in this story called " 36 Hours " an Intelligent's Officer (James Garner) Major Jefferson F. Pike is given the latest secret plans for the Invasion of Normandy and is thereafter sent to Lisbon Portugal to ascertain if the German High Command are chasing the false ruses put out by the Allies. What the U.S Intelligence office does not know is, the Major is unexpectedly kidnapped and sent to Germany to undergo a daring experimental scheme. The Germans' have a highly educated Phychiatrist, Major Walter Gerber (Rod Taylor) who is going to try and convince the Major, that not only is World War II is over, but it is now six years in the future. With the help of Anna Hedler (Eva Marie Saint) heading a highly trained staff of English speaking Germans and a secret, isolated military compound they hope to trick him into revealing the Allies invasion plans. All things go according to plan until the one thing they had hoped would not happen does. Although Garner proves to command the screen with his role, it is Taylor who elicits sympathy for his compassionate character and we discover ourselves rooting for Gerber to succeed. A dramatic film and one which allows the audience to wait impatiently for the hours to be extended. ****
Really enjoyed this film, an engaging mix of psychological banter with pre-D-Day espionage tension.
The best scenes for me were the dialogues between James Garner and Rod Taylor, they'd make a great film on their own. Garner has that amazing combination of intellect and machismo - he can debate the moral aspect of duty and then knock out a guard just as convincingly
Eva Marie Saint's performance is very strong too as the concentration-camp victim unable to express emotion after the trauma that she has experienced. The power of Roald Dahl's writing comes through here, as she acts as a constant reminder to us of the grim realities of the war in the context of the other charismatic characters.
The best scenes for me were the dialogues between James Garner and Rod Taylor, they'd make a great film on their own. Garner has that amazing combination of intellect and machismo - he can debate the moral aspect of duty and then knock out a guard just as convincingly
Eva Marie Saint's performance is very strong too as the concentration-camp victim unable to express emotion after the trauma that she has experienced. The power of Roald Dahl's writing comes through here, as she acts as a constant reminder to us of the grim realities of the war in the context of the other charismatic characters.
Did you know
- TriviaJames Doohan: The soon-to-be "Montgomery Scott" of Star Trek (1966) is uncredited as a British orderly in the opening scenes. Doohan served in Canadian forces during the Normandy Invasion (which the film is about) where he lost part of a finger. Future Imperfect (1990) and Stratagem (2004) were inspired by this film.
- GoofsThe phony newspaper which Pike is given on arrival in hospital, has a front page item about the UN. Although the United Nations first opened in 1945, the name comes from January 1942, when Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation outlining the basic set-up and goals for such an organization. This is all that the Nazis would have needed to make this phony report.
- Quotes
Maj. Jefferson F. Pike: Are you really an army sergeant?
Sgt. Ernst: Regular army - no. I am too old, too fat! Home guard. We are patrolling the border so then the young, strong, and handsome men can go to Russia and freeze to death. Wonderful system, huh?
[Laughs]
- Alternate versionsAlso available in a computer colorized version.
- ConnectionsFeatured in MGM 40th Anniversary (1964)
- How long is 36 Hours?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- 36 horas de suspenso
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 55m(115 min)
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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