Morituri (1965)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Bernhard Wicki

Writers:

Werner Jörg Lüddecke (novel)
Daniel Taradash (screenplay)

Release Date:

September 1965 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

World War II, Espionage, adventure and human lives have never before been combined so explosively

Plot:

A German living in India during World War II is blackmailed by the English to impersonate an SS officer...

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title | WWII | Pacific | Merchant Marine | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Marlon Brando	...	Robert Crain
Yul Brynner	...	Captain Mueller
Janet Margolin	...	Esther
Trevor Howard	...	Colonel Statter
Martin Benrath	...	Kruse
Hans Christian Blech	...	Donkeyman
Wally Cox	...	Dr. Ambach
Max Haufler	...	Branner
Rainer Penkert	...	Milkereit
William Redfield	...	Baldwin
Oscar Beregi Jr.	...	Admiral (as Oscar Beregi)
Martin Brandt	...	Nissen
Charles De Vries	...	Kurz
Carl Esmond	...	Busch
Martin Kosleck	...	Wilke

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:12 (DVD rating) | UK:15 (re-rating) (1990) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG | Norway:16 | USA:Approved (certificate #20855) | Canada:PG (video rating) | Netherlands:12 | Finland:K-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15

Company:

Arcola Pictures

Trivia:

The title "Morituri" is Latin which can be translated as "we who are about to die", from the traditional salute of Roman gladiators in the arena, "Morituri te salutamus" (We, who are about to die, salute you!)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Undergrunnen (1966)

Cool, slick little gem that has been overlooked

Morituri is by no means a flawless masterpiece, but it is a good film. The problem is, because of a somewhat intricate plot you have to watch it a couple of times to understand it. Some parts of the film are dull, especially some of the engine room scenes where there is relative silence--only the noise of the engine room is heard, but it is also gripping at times. I decided to give this film another shot-and I'm glad I did. I found that it is quite interesting, after you watch it a couple of times you understand the purpose of Brando's character in the film. He is great in this film, his accent is flawless and he looks just great--I wish he would have done more action-oriented films. The cinematography is also great, and I absolutely loved the musical score. Hopefully, people will give this movie a chance and see that Brando did do a few good films in the 60's and stop giving him a bum rap.