Teddie Blake
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
Brooklynn
There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
Allissa
.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.
johnjoshua
The 119 minute version, which the director actually edited (despite the distribution of a 102" version) is a fascinating tale of the strife between a father and son which leads to death and deep regret. Patrick Swayze is fantastic in this movie. He shows a side of his acting which proves how diversified he can be and how talented. Martine McCutcheon and Anja Kruse are also fantastic, as is Ben Silverstone. This film should be watched in the original, English version (there is tendency in Europe to dub everything that moves -- including pictures). This film shows how Austria was also involved in the rise of National Socialism as an architect of the movement more than its victim.
patlightfoot
I enjoyed it very much. The writing and bigotry against Jews, was on the wall,(literally in 1928) and Phillipe's father was a real pain in the neck. Paternalistic extremo. His arrogance and bullying factors caused his demise, but not by his son's hand. Although, one had to think why the hesitancy giving him heart pills and trying to stop him falling. But when the truth is revealed, one can understand, Phillip's father's obnoxious relationship with his family intimidated Phillipe and I suspect that barrier between son and father was noticed by others on the mountain and in the hotel. Ones who already had turned against Jews. However, how did they know they were Jews, from the blonde who had slept with the father the night before? And I queried why Phillipe took photos of his dead father, when the head wound was not there when he went for help. Was he in shock? He appeared to be, and also I feel felt a bit guilty about his father, given he had had an argument with him prior to this. This is understandable.Some might again say "Not another film about wartime Jews" but the story has credibility. And it was just as well that Phillipe accepted the pardon and went to America. As others did of course, and who would wonder when the word got around, the Jews were targets now from the Nazi's. The scenery in Austria was wonderful, the acting was very good, and it was a satisfying film script.
hesketh27
This mess just reminded me of one of those 70s pan European co-productions that were so prominent at the time. The characters inhabit a Disneyesque, sanitised version of 1920s Austria where everyone and everything is scrubbed shinily clean and everyone walks aboutwearing beautiful clothes. The story itself would be a good basis for adecent dramatic film but as soon as I heard the dreadful dubbed voice coming out of Heinz Hoenig's mouth I knew this was a stinker! Why does the film show Halsman alive and well in America in the 1950s spoiling any dramatic tension - we already know in the first 2 minutes of the film that he is going to be free, whats the point watching any further? (I personally didn't know who he was before watching the film) Why does Martine McCutcheon have to talk with that ridiculous American accent in a film set in Austria????????? All in all an unwatchable mess. Badly scripted, badly directed and badly acted. AVOID!!!!!!!!!
Marc
A fact based murder trial of the 1920's involving a young Jewish man in pre-Nazi Austria holds your attention to the end if you're unfamiliar with the story. The trouble is the dreadful acting and stagy style direction - so bad it's almost embarrassing.Interested in Martine McCutcheon in the 'sister' role, I hired it on that basis, being a long time fan of "EastEnders". But her pivotal role is reduced to pretty sighs and great costumes.It's a shame that true historical stories are of little interest to the general public because we can learn so much from the past.Overall, a television audience would enjoy this - and that's not saying very much.
