Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Michael Powell's book, "Million Dollar Movie," composer Mikis Theodorakis considered it shameful that a story about Cretan resistance fighters would be told by anyone other than Cretans. He told Powell and Emeric Pressburger that they were both political interlopers, a label he also used in describing Sir Patrick Leigh-Fermor.
- GoofsWhile waiting to ambush the General's car, another vehicle is heard approaching. Elias listens, the pronounces that it is a Volkswagen. While Volkswagen GmbH was technically in existence at the time, the vehicle in question wouldn't have been called a Volkswagen---it was known as a Kubelwagen (bucket-car), while the better-known Beetle was a KDF-wagen.
- Quotes
Maj. Patrick Leigh Fermor aka Philedem: Field Marshal Rommel won't be in Cairo but you will be!
- Alternate versionsThe UK version of the film, titled "Ill Met by Moonlight", is 11 minutes longer than the version originally released in American markets.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger (2024)
Featured review
interesting WW II spy intrigue from U.K.
Filmed ten years AFTER the end of the second world war, Night Ambush (ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT to the rest of the world) is a story of British operatives in Crete, reporting home on the activities of the Germans. Their plan is to grab a German officer and take him away. The only name I recognized here is British actor Dirk Bogarde, who plays Major Patrick Fermor. In this story, David Oxley plays Captain I.W. Stanley Moss; Moss is also the original author of his own true account of this WWII story, according to Wikipedia. Part of the story is kind of a jolly old adventure, with dancing and singing, which was a little odd for spies keeping a low profile. Take note of the German officer who barges in at the dentist's office to inspect everyone's papers; Christopher Lee (would have been about 30) has played many roles, frequently the villain in Star Wars, Man with the Golden Gun, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and even Sherlock Holmes. Interesting career,he has worked with many of the greats. As others have mentioned, incredible outdoor photography, which seems to be the Italian Alps. Quite good quality sound and photography by the Rank Organisation, for the 1950s. Screenplay and direction by Powell and Pressburger, who had made 25 films together. Good way to spend 104 minutes (although IMDb shows "US version 93 mins", Turner Classics DID show the 104 min version ....there were a couple off- color remarks, but certainly not 10 minutes worth.) Doesn't seem to have won any awards, but interesting spy story from WW II.
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- £212,019 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 33 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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