VICTORY AT ENTEBBE

US, 1976, 119 minutes, Colour.
Helmut Berger, Theodore Bikel, Burt Lancaster, Linda Blair, Kirk Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Julius Harris, Helen Hayes, Anthony Hopkins, Christian Marquand, Elizabeth Taylor, Jessica Walter, Harris Yulin.
Directed by Marvin Chomsky.

Victory at Entebbe was filmed swiftly (colour texture looking it), this film is the valent of a glossy magazine coverage of the events: a keen eye on audience attraction and attention, dramatic statements to highlight issues (not explore them), human elements to ensure involvement. And why not? The opening and the aircraft sequences are in the Airport/disasters vein with Helen Hayes and Co. menaced by Helmut Berger and Co. The Israeli cabinet and military sequences are much better with Burt Lancaster and Anthony Hopkins. The raid itself, led by Richard Dreyfuss, is action/TV style. The screenplay takes the events in day by day documentary style, especially the facts of the raid and casualties.

1. The overall impact of the film and its drama? The fact that it was made so quickly after the events? The impact of the events on the world? The impact on Jewish audiences? The role of Israel in the world in 1976? The role of hijacking and terrorism?

2. How much did the film betray the rapidity of its making? Comment on the techniques, the quality of the filming, the quality of the acting?

3. How well done was the reconstruction of the events, the diary form, the flight and the hijacking, the siege, Israel's discussions and preparations, the carrying out of the commando raid? Comment on the documentary style of the film. Was the fact that there were many stars in it a good factor or was it to the detriment of the impact of the film?

4. What comment on 1976 did the film make? International danger, hijacking and violence, politics and fanaticism, hostility towards Israel, the role of Uganda? Were these issues well explored? With prejudice, with propaganda?

5. The initial build-up, the Athens setting, the commentary on the poor security at Athens, the sense of disaster, an introduction to the various people on the flight? How did it affect audience response in knowing that these people would be hijacked?

6. The building up of suspense, the presentation of the hijackers, their sense of timing, the rapidity of their take-over, the varying techniques? How credible was people's reaction, fear, terror, the girl offering the chocolates, the sense of patriotism on the Israeli part, tough attitudes, compromise, patience? How well did most people cope? A drawing on strength and compassion?

7. World opinion of this hijacking? The impact on Israel and its involvement? Public opinion about hijackings in Israel? The attitude of the Israeli government and Cabinet? The hard line of the older members, the attitude of compromise and negotiation with the younger members? How credible was this? What principles were invoked, how valid were they?

8. The importance of showing some of the parents? How credible were Kirk Douglas and Elizabeth Taylor? The grief, the discussion about compromise, the demonstrations for the Prime Minister, the impassioned plea of the parents to the Prime Minister? Sentiment, sentimentality? A credible sequence to show the humanity within the political and violent situation?

9. The presentation of the hijackers as people? The leader and his German background, fanaticism, ability to take over and command, his fear and tiredness? His appeal to his own humanity? His not wanting to be likened to the Nazis? The girl and her intense violence and fascist approach? Her relish of separating the Jews from the others? The other hijackers and their look, fanaticism, violence? The specifically anti-Israeli approach of the hijackers.

10. How well did the film intersperse Israeli sequences with those in Uganda? The Israeli Cabinet discussions, the personalities of the politicians, the issues and the decisions? Tracing the flight of the hijacked plane? Negotiation? The Minister of Defence and his strong views? The control of the Prime Minister? Presenting these men as humanly as possible? The reprieve in time, the plans for the raid, the issues involved and the personalities and their attitudes? The training and the security? How admirable was this for the audience?

11. The presentation of Uganda, the choice of the hijackers, world opinion of Idi Amin? How well was he presented, accurately, as ludicrous. His style and his speech, his wanting applause, his violence and illogicality?

12. How credible were the people on the plane? The old lady and her calm, her son and his experience of Uganda? What attitudes did they represent? Their Jewish background?

13. The films focus on the young girl, the boy? Their discussion about home, the armed services? The fact that her parents were shown pleading with the Prime Minister? Her confidence? The fact that the boy was shot concerned for her? The disappearance of the old lady and her son's concern?

14. The encounter between the elderly Israeli who had been in the concentration camp and the hijacker? His quiet despair, his verbal attack of the hijackers as being a Nazi? His witnessing the hijacker's death?

15. The presentation of the non-Israelis and the gradual build-up to their release? The effect on those who remained behind?


16. The ordinary people amongst the Israeli captives? The sense of being hostage, the threat to life, the fear? The religious observance of the Sabbath? The ordinary people, the sympathetic couple, the woman who looked after the elderly lady and her heart attack? The Belgians and the old man's betrayal of his Israeli nationhood? His grief and people comforting him?

17. The contrast between the tranquil life in the airport in Uganda, the ease of the hijackers, the hostages playing cards or sleeping? Intercuts with the commando take-off, the Cabinet meeting and the decision, the details of the flight and the preparation of the car?

18. How well presented was the raid? How interestingly, how convincingly?

19. The number of deaths? The futility of the hostages killed? The leader of the Israeli commandos? How well had he been known throughout the film, his attitudes? The pathos of his death? The fact that so many Ugandan soldiers were killed? The assassination of the hijackers?

20. The sense to freedom when the hostages ran out of the building, into the plane, the sense of exhilaration in the flight away from Uganda?

21. World opinion to these events? Presentation of endurance? Achievement? The insights into human nature and behaviour?