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The 25th Hour (1967 film)
Encyclopedia
La Vingt-cinquième Heure (The 25th Hour) is a 1967 war drama film, starring Anthony Quinn
and Virna Lisi
. It was produced by Italian producer Carlo Ponti
and directed by french director Henri Verneuil
. The film is based on a novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu
. It follows the troubles experienced by a Romania
n peasant couple caught up in World War II
.
, a local police constable frames Johann Moritz (Quinn) as being Jewish, because his wife Suzanna has refused his advances. He is sent to a concentration camp as punishment. Eventually he is deemed part of the Aryan
race and obliged to enlist as a Waffen SS soldier. After the war, he is arrested and prosecuted as a war criminal, but is ultimately released and re-united with his wife and sons in Germany
.
The picture is based on real events. It includes Hungary's
government in collaboration with the Nazis, the encroachment of Romania by Stalin's troopers, and other happenings.
Anthony Quinn
Antonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
and Virna Lisi
Virna Lisi
Virna Lisi is a Cannes and César award-winning Italian film actress. She was born in Ancona, Marche, as Virna Lisa Pieralisi.-Early career:...
. It was produced by Italian producer Carlo Ponti
Carlo Ponti
Carlo Ponti was an Italian film producer with over 140 production credits, and the husband of Italian movie star Sophia Loren.-Career:...
and directed by french director Henri Verneuil
Henri Verneuil
Henri Verneuil was a French-Armenian playwright and filmmaker, who enjoyed a successful career in France.-Biography:...
. The film is based on a novel by C. Virgil Gheorghiu
Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu
Constantin Virgil Gheorghiu was a Romanian writer, best known for his 1949 novel, The 25th Hour.-Life:...
. It follows the troubles experienced by a Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
n peasant couple caught up in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Plot
In a small village in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, a local police constable frames Johann Moritz (Quinn) as being Jewish, because his wife Suzanna has refused his advances. He is sent to a concentration camp as punishment. Eventually he is deemed part of the Aryan
Aryan
Aryan is an English language loanword derived from Sanskrit ārya and denoting variously*In scholarly usage:**Indo-Iranian languages *in dated usage:**the Indo-European languages more generally and their speakers...
race and obliged to enlist as a Waffen SS soldier. After the war, he is arrested and prosecuted as a war criminal, but is ultimately released and re-united with his wife and sons in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The picture is based on real events. It includes Hungary's
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
government in collaboration with the Nazis, the encroachment of Romania by Stalin's troopers, and other happenings.
Cast
- Anthony QuinnAnthony QuinnAntonio Rodolfo Quinn-Oaxaca , more commonly known as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican American actor, as well as a painter and writer...
as Johann Moritz - Virna LisiVirna LisiVirna Lisi is a Cannes and César award-winning Italian film actress. She was born in Ancona, Marche, as Virna Lisa Pieralisi.-Early career:...
as Suzanna Moritz - Grégoire AslanGrégoire AslanGrégoire Aslan was an Armenian actor.Born Krikor Aslanian in Switzerland or in Constantinople, according to different sources, Aslan made his professional debut at 18 as a vocalist and drummer with a Paris dance band, then launched an acting career under the name of Koko Aslan. His first film...
as Dobresco - Michael RedgraveMichael RedgraveSir Michael Scudamore Redgrave, CBE was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author.-Youth and education:...
as Defense lawyer - Marcel DalioMarcel DalioMarcel Dalio was a French character actor. He had major roles in two of Jean Renoir's most famous films, Grand Illusion and The Rules of the Game.- Biography :...
as Strul (as Dalio) - Jan WerichJan WerichJan Werich was a Czech actor, playwright and writer.-Life:Between 1916 to 1924 he attended "reálné gymnasium" in Křemencová Street in Prague...
as Sgt. Constantin - Harold Goldblatt as Isaac Nagy
- Alexander KnoxAlexander KnoxAlexander Knox was a Canadian actor and author of adventure novels set in the Great Lakes area during the 19th century.-Biography:...
as Prosecutor - Liam RedmondLiam RedmondLiam Redmond was an Irish actor known for his stage, film and television roles.-Early life:Redmond was one of four children born to carpenter Thomas and Eileen Redmond...
as Father Koruga - Meier TzelnikerMeier TzelnikerMeier Tzelniker was a British actor.He appeared mainly in Yiddish theatre, but was sometimes a character actor in English language plays and films, such as It Always Rains On Sunday and more notably Expresso Bongo ....
as Abramovici - Kenneth J. WarrenKenneth J. WarrenKenneth John Warren was an Australian actor.-Selected Filmography:*Long John Silver *I Was Monty's Double *The Criminal *The Double Man *S*P*Y*S...
as Insp. Varga - John Le MesurierJohn Le MesurierJohn Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
as Tribunal president - Serge ReggianiSerge ReggianiSerge Reggiani was an Italian-born French singer and actor. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight...
as Trajan Koruga