Castle Keep
Encyclopedia
Castle Keep is a 'firmly pro- and anti-war' 1969 American war film
directed by Sydney Pollack
, starring Burt Lancaster
, Patrick O'Neal, Jean-Pierre Aumont
, Bruce Dern
, and Peter Falk
. The movie appeared in the summer of 1969, a few months before the arrival of Pollack's smash hit They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.
, a ragtag squad of American soldiers, led by one-eyed Major Falconer (Lancaster) and including Sgt. Rossi (Falk), art expert Captain Beckman (O'Neal) and the narrator, Pvt. Allistair Benjiman (Al Freeman, Jr.
), take shelter in an ancient castle, containing many priceless and irreplaceable art treasures, which the impotent Count hopes they will defend against the advancing Germans as well as, he also hopes, impregnate the Countess (Astrid Heeren) so that his line may continue.
The film is based on a novel by William Eastlake published in 1969.
unconvincing. Still others felt the film was farfetched in its story. It was one of many movies filmed in Europe, with shooting done in Yugoslavia
: word had it that Pollack worked hard on the film. When there was an actual explosion at the castle after a few battle scenes were filmed, he grabbed a camera and continued filming so the additional footage could go into the film, which it did. He also added a familiar line that appears at the film's start and close: the line goes, "Once upon a time...."
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
directed by Sydney Pollack
Sydney Pollack
Sydney Irwin Pollack was an American film director, producer and actor. Pollack studied with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, where he later taught acting...
, starring Burt Lancaster
Burt Lancaster
Burton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
, Patrick O'Neal, Jean-Pierre Aumont
Jean-Pierre Aumont
-Early life:Aumont was born Jean-Pierre Philippe Salomons in Paris, the son of Suzanne and Alexandre Salomons, owner of La Maison du Blanc . His mother's uncle was well-known stage actor Georges Berr. His father was from a Dutch Jewish family and his mother's family were French Jews...
, Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Bruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
, and Peter Falk
Peter Falk
Peter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
. The movie appeared in the summer of 1969, a few months before the arrival of Pollack's smash hit They Shoot Horses, Don't They?.
Plot
During the Battle of the BulgeBattle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, a ragtag squad of American soldiers, led by one-eyed Major Falconer (Lancaster) and including Sgt. Rossi (Falk), art expert Captain Beckman (O'Neal) and the narrator, Pvt. Allistair Benjiman (Al Freeman, Jr.
Al Freeman, Jr.
Al Freeman, Jr., M.Ed. is an African-American actor and director....
), take shelter in an ancient castle, containing many priceless and irreplaceable art treasures, which the impotent Count hopes they will defend against the advancing Germans as well as, he also hopes, impregnate the Countess (Astrid Heeren) so that his line may continue.
The film is based on a novel by William Eastlake published in 1969.
Cast
- Burt LancasterBurt LancasterBurton Stephen "Burt" Lancaster was an American film actor noted for his athletic physique and distinctive smile...
as Major Abraham Falconer - Patrick O'Neal as Captain Lionel Beckman
- Jean-Pierre AumontJean-Pierre Aumont-Early life:Aumont was born Jean-Pierre Philippe Salomons in Paris, the son of Suzanne and Alexandre Salomons, owner of La Maison du Blanc . His mother's uncle was well-known stage actor Georges Berr. His father was from a Dutch Jewish family and his mother's family were French Jews...
as The Count of Maldorais - Peter FalkPeter FalkPeter Michael Falk was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Columbo in the television series Columbo...
as Sergeant Rossi - Astrid Heeren as Therese
- Scott WilsonScott WilsonScott Wilson was a judge on United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1929 to 1942.-Early life:Scott Wilson was born on January 11, 1870, in Falmouth, Maine. He graduated from Bates College in Maine in 1892 and then studied at the University of Pennsylvania...
as Corporal Clearboy - Tony BillTony BillGerard Anthony "Tony" Bill is an American actor, producer, and director. He produced the 1973 movie The Sting, for which he shared the Academy Award for Best Picture with Michael Phillips and Julia Phillips...
as Lieutenant Amberjack - Al Freeman Jr. as Private Allistair Piersall Benjamin
- James PattersonJames PattersonJames B. Patterson is an American author of thriller novels, largely known for his series about American psychologist Alex Cross...
as Elk - Bruce DernBruce DernBruce MacLeish Dern is an American film actor. He also appeared as a guest star in numerous television shows. He frequently takes roles as a character actor, often playing unstable and villainous characters...
as Lieutenant Billy Byron Bix - Michael ConradMichael ConradMichael Conrad was an American television actor.-Career:Conrad had a long acting career in television from the 1950s to the 1980s...
as Sergeant DeVaca - Caterina BorattoCaterina BorattoCaterina Boratto was an Italian film actress. She appeared in 50 films between 1937 and 1993.-Selected filmography:* 8½ * Juliet of the Spirits * Me, Me, Me... and the Others...
as Red Queen
Response
The film opened to mixed reviews. Many felt Pollack's tale of war, while earnest, was a littleunconvincing. Still others felt the film was farfetched in its story. It was one of many movies filmed in Europe, with shooting done in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
: word had it that Pollack worked hard on the film. When there was an actual explosion at the castle after a few battle scenes were filmed, he grabbed a camera and continued filming so the additional footage could go into the film, which it did. He also added a familiar line that appears at the film's start and close: the line goes, "Once upon a time...."