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{{Short description|1968 film by Ralph Nelson}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = Counterpoint
| name = Counterpoint
| image = Counterpoint.jpg
| image = Counterpoint.jpg

| image_size =
| caption = Film Poster
| caption = Film Poster
| director = [[Ralph Nelson]]
| director = [[Ralph Nelson]]
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| budget =
| budget =
}}
}}
'''''Counterpoint''''' (also known as '''''The Battle Horns''''' or '''''The General''''') is a 1968 epic war film starring [[Charlton Heston]], [[Maximilian Schell]], [[Kathryn Hays]] and [[Leslie Nielsen]]. It is based on the novel ''[[The General (1960 novel)|The General]]'' by [[Alan Sillitoe]]. In the United States the film was released as a [[double feature]] with ''[[Sergeant Ryker]]'' a 1963 television film starring [[Lee Marvin]].
'''''Counterpoint''''' is a 1968 war film starring [[Charlton Heston]], [[Maximilian Schell]], [[Kathryn Hays]] and [[Leslie Nielsen]]. It is based on the novel ''[[The General (1960 novel)|The General]]'' by [[Alan Sillitoe]]. In the United States the film was released as a [[double feature]] with ''[[Sergeant Ryker]]'', a 1963 television film starring [[Lee Marvin]].


==Plot==
==Plot==
Lionel Evans is the director of a well-respected symphony orchestra touring European concert halls around 1944 in World War II. In the midst of one concert, the city where they are playing is attacked by German troops, and when Evans and his musicians try to escape, they are captured by Nazi soldiers led by Col. Arndt. Evans and the orchestra are taken to a castle where they are to bide their time before being executed; but it turns out that Arndt's superior, Gen. Schiller, is a big classical music fan. Schiller commands Evans and his symphony to prepare a special concert for the Nazis, but Evans realizes that the moment the concert is over, he and his musicians will be killed.
Lionel Evans is the director of a well-respected symphony orchestra touring European concert halls in Belgium in December 1944 in World War II. In the midst of one concert, the city where they are playing is [[Battle of the Bulge|attacked by German troops]], and when Evans and his musicians try to escape, they are captured by Nazi soldiers led by Col. Arndt. Evans and the orchestra are taken to a castle where they are to bide their time before being executed; but it turns out that Arndt's superior, Gen. Schiller, is a big classical music fan. Schiller commands Evans and his symphony to prepare a special concert for the Nazis, but Evans realizes that the moment the concert is over, he and his musicians will be killed.


==Cast==
==Cast==
<!--- [[WP:NOTDATABASE]] - cast and order per Main Cast [[Motion picture credits#Opening credits]], roles per closing credits scroll --->
{{div col}}
{{Cast listing|
*[[Charlton Heston]] as Lionel Evans
*[[Maximilian Schell]] as Gen. Schiller
*[[Charlton Heston]] as Evans
*[[Kathryn Hays]] as Annabelle Rice
*[[Maximilian Schell]] as Schiller
*[[Leslie Nielsen]] as Victor Rice
*[[Kathryn Hays]] as Annabelle
*[[Anton Diffring]] as Col. Arndt
*[[Leslie Nielsen]] as Victor
*[[Linden Chiles]] as Lt. Long
*[[Anton Diffring]] as Arndt
*[[Peter Masterson]] as Sgt. Calloway
*[[Linden Chiles]] as Long
*[[Curt Lowens]] as Capt. Klingermann
*[[Peter Masterson]] as Calloway
*[[Curt Lowens]] as Klingermann
*[[Neva Patterson]] as Dorothy
*[[Neva Patterson]] as Dorothy
*[[Cyril Delevanti]] as Tartzoff
*[[Cyril Delevanti]] as Tartzoff
*Gregory Morton as Jordon
*Gregory Morton<!--- not the football player ---> as Jordon
*[[Parley Baer]] as Hook
{{div col end}}
*[[Dan Frazer]] as Chaminant
*[[Ed Peck]] as Prescott
}}


==Music==
==Music==
The orchestra's performances, which include works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, and Schubert, were performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|title=allmovie.com |work=Counterpoint |url=http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll |accessdate=October 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164610/http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll |archivedate=May 9, 2006 }}</ref>
The orchestra's performances, which include works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, and Schubert, were performed by the [[Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|title=allmovie.com |work=Counterpoint |url=http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll |accessdate=October 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509164610/http://allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll |archivedate=May 9, 2006 }}</ref>


==Production==
==Production==
Filmed at [[Universal Studios]] including a set built for the 1923 film ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', the film began shooting on 21 November 1966 and concluded 24 January 1967. Two days were removed from the production schedule and the script was rewritten without consulting the director Ralph Nelson.<ref>p.84 Worsley, Sue Dwiggins ''From Oz to E.T.: Wally Worsley's Half-century in Hollywood'' Scarecrow Press, 1 Jan 1997</ref>
Filmed at [[Universal Studios Lot|Universal Studios]] including a set built for the 1923 film ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923 film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]'', the film began shooting on 21 November 1966 and concluded 24 January 1967. Two days were removed from the production schedule and the script was rewritten without consulting the director Ralph Nelson.<ref>p.84 Worsley, Sue Dwiggins ''From Oz to E.T.: Wally Worsley's Half-century in Hollywood'' Scarecrow Press, 1 Jan 1997</ref>

==Translations==
Also known as:<ref name="imdb1">{{cite web | title=Counterpoint (1967) - Release dates | publisher=IMDb | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062829/releaseinfo | accessdate=January 25, 2007}}</ref>

Denmark : Krigens symfoni<br />
West Germany : Der Befehl<br />
Greece : Nyhtes kolaseos<br />
Finland : Sankareitten sinfonia<br />
France : La Symphonie des héros<br />
Italy : Sinfonia di guerra<br />
Spain : Una tumba al amanecer<br />
Sweden : I krigets järngrepp<br />
Turkey : Esirler Kampı<br />
USA (working title) : The Battle Horns<br />
USA (working title) : The General


==See also==
==Critical response==
Writing in ''[[The New York Times]]'', critic [[Vincent Canby]] speculated that the film was "manufactured on the company's back lot to give Universal City tourists something to gawk at," and described it as "an aggressively unbelievable melodrama" and an "anachronism."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Canby |first1=Vincent |title=Local Double Bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1968/03/14/archives/local-double-bill.html |website=The New York Times |publisher=The New York Times Company |access-date=2024-03-08}}</ref> Film critic [[Roger Ebert]] described the film as having a "perverse charm and a lot of good classical music" and "atmosphere," but also reported that it had a "preposterous story" and "if only they had said the hell with it and made a Gothic horror movie they would have had something."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ebert |first1=Roger |title=Counterpoint |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/counterpoint-1968 |website=RogerEbert.com |publisher=RogerEbert.com |access-date=2024-03-08}}</ref> A review of the film in ''[[TV Guide]]'' noted it was "one of those rare films in which Heston is not in a toga, a doublet, or spurs," and that "the best thing about the movie was the classical music [which is] what will be most remembered about this film."<ref>{{cite web |title=Counterpoint Reviews |url=https://www.tvguide.com/movies/counterpoint/review/2000105826/ |website=TV Guide |publisher=TV Guide |access-date=2024-03-08}}</ref>
⚫
*[[List of American films of 1968]]
*[[List of American films of 1967]]


==References==
==References==
Line 70: Line 59:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb title|id=0062829|name=Counterpoint}}
* {{IMDb title}}
* {{Amg movie|87927|Counterpoint}}
* {{AFI film}}
* {{amg title|id=87927|name=Counterpoint}}
* {{TCMDb title}}
* {{Letterboxd film}}


{{Ralph Nelson}}
{{Ralph Nelson}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Counterpoint (1968 Film)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Counterpoint (1968 Film)}}
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American war drama films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films about classical music and musicians]]
[[Category:Films about classical music and musicians]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ralph Nelson]]
[[Category:Films directed by Ralph Nelson]]
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[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Western Front of World War II films]]
[[Category:Western Front of World War II films]]
[[Category:World War II films]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:1960s American films]]

Latest revision as of 19:38, 21 December 2024

Counterpoint
Film Poster
Directed byRalph Nelson
Written byJames Lee (Screenplay)
Joel Oliansky (Screenplay)
Based onThe General
by Alan Sillitoe
Produced byRichard Berg
StarringCharlton Heston
Maximilian Schell
Leslie Nielsen
Kathryn Hays
CinematographyRussell Metty
Edited byHoward Epstein
Music byBronislau Kaper
Production
company
Universal Pictures
Distributed byUniversal Pictures
Release date
  • March 13, 1968 (1968-03-13) (New York City)
Running time
107 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Counterpoint is a 1968 war film starring Charlton Heston, Maximilian Schell, Kathryn Hays and Leslie Nielsen. It is based on the novel The General by Alan Sillitoe. In the United States the film was released as a double feature with Sergeant Ryker, a 1963 television film starring Lee Marvin.

Plot

[edit]

Lionel Evans is the director of a well-respected symphony orchestra touring European concert halls in Belgium in December 1944 in World War II. In the midst of one concert, the city where they are playing is attacked by German troops, and when Evans and his musicians try to escape, they are captured by Nazi soldiers led by Col. Arndt. Evans and the orchestra are taken to a castle where they are to bide their time before being executed; but it turns out that Arndt's superior, Gen. Schiller, is a big classical music fan. Schiller commands Evans and his symphony to prepare a special concert for the Nazis, but Evans realizes that the moment the concert is over, he and his musicians will be killed.

Cast

[edit]

Music

[edit]

The orchestra's performances, which include works by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Brahms, Wagner, and Schubert, were performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.[1]

Production

[edit]

Filmed at Universal Studios including a set built for the 1923 film The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the film began shooting on 21 November 1966 and concluded 24 January 1967. Two days were removed from the production schedule and the script was rewritten without consulting the director Ralph Nelson.[2]

Critical response

[edit]

Writing in The New York Times, critic Vincent Canby speculated that the film was "manufactured on the company's back lot to give Universal City tourists something to gawk at," and described it as "an aggressively unbelievable melodrama" and an "anachronism."[3] Film critic Roger Ebert described the film as having a "perverse charm and a lot of good classical music" and "atmosphere," but also reported that it had a "preposterous story" and "if only they had said the hell with it and made a Gothic horror movie they would have had something."[4] A review of the film in TV Guide noted it was "one of those rare films in which Heston is not in a toga, a doublet, or spurs," and that "the best thing about the movie was the classical music [which is] what will be most remembered about this film."[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "allmovie.com". Counterpoint. Archived from the original on May 9, 2006. Retrieved October 15, 2007.
  2. ^ p.84 Worsley, Sue Dwiggins From Oz to E.T.: Wally Worsley's Half-century in Hollywood Scarecrow Press, 1 Jan 1997
  3. ^ Canby, Vincent. "Local Double Bill". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  4. ^ Ebert, Roger. "Counterpoint". RogerEbert.com. RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
  5. ^ "Counterpoint Reviews". TV Guide. TV Guide. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
[edit]
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