Before Winter Comes
Before Winter Comes | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | J. Lee Thompson |
Produced by | Robert Emmett Ginna |
Written by |
Andrew Sinclair (screenplay) Frederick L. Keefe (story) |
Starring |
David Niven Topol Anna Karina |
Music by | Ron Grainer[1] |
Cinematography | Gilbert Taylor |
Edited by | Willy Kemplen |
Production company |
Windward |
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates |
January 1969 (London) March 24, 1969 (New York) |
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 or the American zone. Burnside is a by-the-books commander but runs into trouble with the intertranslations of many different languages. However, of the refugees, Janovic (Topol) is willing to help as he can speak many languages. Janovic quickly conveys Burnsides's orders and helps the way station run smoothly. Janovic runs into romance with a lovely innkeeper, Maria (Anna Karina). But his love with her stops when he discovers her affair with Burnside. Meanwhile, Janovic is found to be a Russian deserter, and must be returned to the Russian mainland to be executed. Burnside offers to help him escape, but Janovic can't decide whether to trust his commander.[2]
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