FIVE GRAVES TO CAIRO
US, 1943, 96 Minutes, Black and White.
Franchot Tone, Anne Baxter. Akim Tamiroff, Erich Von Stroheim, Fortunio Bonavova.
Directed by Billy Wilder.
Five Graves to Cairo was the second film directed by Billy Wilder, Wilder had moved to America from Germany during the Nazi regime and had spent his time in the 30s doing screen writing. With The Major and the Minor he moved towards direction in 1941. This very interesting war story reflects the atmosphere of World War II and American feeling. The film has an early performance by Anne Baxter as the heroine and boasts a performance by Erich von Stroheim as Rommel. James Mason was later to portray Rommel in the biography, The Desert Fox. The film is a crisply-made war adventure reflecting the atmosphere of the war years.
1. Was this an interesting and entertaining war film? Its best characteristics?
2. The film as a product of the early 40s? Style, studio locations etc? Black and white photography?
3. Why do audiences enjoy war films? The main characteristics of the genre? Action and excitement? Conflicts and enemies? Suspense and heroism? Patriotism?
4. The propaganda impact of this film? On its first release, the impact now? Why the difference? was it evident that the film was based on a play? What were the main strengths from his origin? Unity of location, quality of dialogue?
5. The significance of the title? The focus on Rommel, German preparation for the war, current history in 1943?
6. How convincing was Bramble as a hero? The striking opening of the tank in the desert, audiences identifying with him. the nature of his heroism, patriotism, capacity for quick thought, entering into a complex situation and succeeding, the suspense of his new characterisation, a big chance in close contact with Rommel, the human element and his relationship with Farid and Mouche, the final crisis and success? Was he an interesting character in himself?
7. The facts of the desert war in the early 40s? The film's portrayal of the desert, Egypt in the world war, the tides of war in Egypt? The hotel itself: its atmosphere, as taken over by the British, the Germans? Farid and his being a victim of both sides? Loyalties? Darvos as a spy in this hotel? The dangers of war for the people involved?
8. Mouche: as a maid, French, her reasons for staying, hostility to Bramble, her concern for her brother, her softening for Bramble. her intercession with the German officer, the decisions about betrayal, her disillusionment. her death and its impact? As characterisation, as war propaganda?
9. Comment on the portrayal of Rommel: during his lifetime, audience views coloured by his subsequent history and death? How sympathetic, for a German during the war? His German arrogance? His strategy, the pre-war preparations? His explaining this to the British? His holding a trial for Mouche? The overall impression? The German officer and his use of Mouche? His forgeries, his death? The melodramatic aspects of his death?
10. How convincing the details of life and work in the hotel, the quality of human relationships, the danger of the raid?
11. The pathos of the ending with Mouche's grave, the veering towards patriotism?
