In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 4 wins & 6 nominations total
Michael Redgrave
- The Medical Officer
- (as Sir Michael Redgrave)
Michael Hawkins
- Prisoner
- (uncredited)
James Payne
- Man in Prison
- (uncredited)
Robert Royal
- Prisoner
- (uncredited)
Harold Sanderson
- Officer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaFilming took place in Almería, Spain in a sandy wasteland called Cabo de Gata starting in September 1964 for five weeks on location. An old Spanish fort in Málaga was used for the prison.
Many people associated with the production had regarded the filming as pleasant, despite difficult conditions---The temperatures rarely fell below 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius), and despite the 2,000 gallons of pure water that were shipped in for the crew, almost everyone succumbed to dysentery during the shoot.
- GoofsWhen Ossie Davis strips to his shorts, the style of shorts changes from the time he leaves the cell block to the time he gets to the commandant's office.
- Quotes
Trooper Joe Roberts: We're all doing time. Even the screws.
- Alternate versionsColorized version was broadcast over TNT Network June 7, 1989.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Sun... the Sand... the Hill. (1965)
Featured review
Breathtaking - no-nonsense Lumet goes to desert prison.
Stark images, powerful script and performances, and rapid, sharp editing make this film difficult to forget. Director Sidney Lumet stamps his authority on the movie with a style that is gritty, almost documentary -like. The quick cuts are precise, like the snap of the salutes and the bark of the NCO's. Beyond Lumet's towering presence, there is a likeable performance from a young Ossie Davis, an excellent early non-Bond performance from Sean Connery, and Harry Andrews' Sargeant-Major is a remarkable creation - a little man whose job is to destroy these misfits on behalf of a system that will not tolerate individuals.
This remarkable film stays in the mind long after viewing for me, mainly because it announces early on that it is not an easy picture, and like early Frankenheimer, it's aggressive style stands out from the norm. It is a quintessential sixties picture - a time when experiments in style could be taken seriously - not just a smirky in-jokes or cartoonish roller -coaster rides. Exhilarating nonetheless.
This remarkable film stays in the mind long after viewing for me, mainly because it announces early on that it is not an easy picture, and like early Frankenheimer, it's aggressive style stands out from the norm. It is a quintessential sixties picture - a time when experiments in style could be taken seriously - not just a smirky in-jokes or cartoonish roller -coaster rides. Exhilarating nonetheless.
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Details
Box office
- Budget
- $2,500,000 (estimated)
- Runtime2 hours 3 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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