Before Winter Comes
Before Winter Comes | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | J. Lee Thompson |
Written by | Andrew Sinclair (screenplay) Frederick L. Keefe (story) |
Produced by | Robert Emmett Ginna |
Starring | David Niven Topol Anna Karina |
Cinematography | Gilbert Taylor |
Edited by | Willy Kemplen |
Music by | Ron Grainer[2] |
Production company | Windward |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates | January 1969 (London) 24 March 1969 (New York)[1] |
Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Before Winter Comes is a 1969 British film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Andrew Sinclair.
Plot
Before Winter Comes takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II. British Major Giles Burnside (David Niven) is assigned to an Austrian refugee camp; his mission is to send the groups of displaced civilians to either the Russian zone or the American zone. Burnside is a by-the-book officer but he runs into trouble with the translation of the many different languages. However, one of the refugees, Janovic (Topol), can speak many languages and is willing to help. Janovic quickly conveys Burnside's orders and helps the camp run smoothly. Janovic runs into romance with a lovely innkeeper, Maria (Anna Karina), until he discovers her affair with Burnside. Meanwhile, Janovic is found to be a Russian deserter, who should be returned to the Russian mainland to be executed. Burnside offers to help him escape, but Janovic cannot decide whether to trust him.[3]
Cast
- David Niven as Major Burnside
- Topol as Janovic
- Anna Karina as Maria
- John Hurt as Lieutenant Pilkington
- Anthony Quayle as Brigadier Bewley
- Ori Levy as Captain Kamenev
- John Collin as Sergeant Woody
- Karel Stepanek as Count Kerassy
- Guy Deghy as Kovacs
- Mark Malicz as Komenski
- Gertan Klauber as Russian major
- Hana Maria Pravda as Beata
- George Innes as Bill
- Tony Selby as Ted
- Hugh Futcher as Joe
- Chris Sandford as Johnny
- Colin Spaull as Alf
- Larry Dann as Al
- Jeffry Wickham as Captain Roots
- Alysoun Austin as A.T.S. driver
- John Savident as British corporal
Release
The film opened at the Sutton Theatre in New York City on 24 March 1969 and grossed $17,846 in its first week.[1]
References
External links