Main Cast: Burt Lancaster, Patrick O'Neal, Jean-Pierre Aumont, Peter Falk, Scott Wilson, Bruce Dern
Release Year: 1969
Country: US
Run Time: 107 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
This decidedly different war movie follows Maj. Abraham Falconer (Burt Lancaster), a tired, one-eyed Army officer, as he leads eight men into Belgium where they hope to take a much-needed rest at a 10th century castle. The master of the house, Henri Tixier (Jean-Pierre Aumont), welcomes them with a surprising degree of enthusiasm. Tixier is married to his young niece, Therese (Astrid Heeren), and the couple would like to have a child, but since Tixier is impotent, he has been unable to father one. He encourages Falconer to see if he can have better luck with Therese. The men under Falconer's command have more than a few escapades of their own, as Sgt. Rossi (Peter Falk) seduces the wife of a local baker, an art historian among them tries to protect the treasures of the castle, and a car buff becomes fascinated by his first encounter with a Volkswagen. Amidst the surreal fun and games at the castle, the soldiers make the most of their well-deserved vacation until an invasion of German troops puts them back on the firing line. Directed by Sydney Pollack, Castle Keep was based on a novel by William Eastlake. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Tony Bill - Lieutenant Amberiack; Al Freeman, Jr. - Pfc. Alistair Benjamin; James Patterson - Pvt. Henry Three Ears of an Elk; Michael Conrad - Sgt de Vaca; Caterina Boratto - The Red Queen; Astrid Heeren - Therese, Contesse de Maldorais; Harry Baird - Dancing Soldier; Karen Blanguernon - The Red Queen's girl; Elizabeth Tessier - The Red Queen's girl; Ernest Clark - British Colonel
Credit
Max Douy - Art Director, Mort Rabinowitz - Art Director, Dick Sanders - Choreography, Marc Maurette - First Assistant Director, Sydney Pollack - Director, Malcolm Cooke - Editor, Michel Legrand - Composer (Music Score), Henri Decaë - Cinematographer, John Calley - Producer, Martin Ransohoff - Producer, Edward L. Rissien - Producer, Charles Merangel - Set Designer, David Rayfiel - Screenwriter, Daniel Taradash - Screenwriter, William Eastlake - Book Author
During the Battle of the Bulge, a ragtag squad of American soldiers, led by one-eyed Major Falconer (Lancaster) and including Sgt.Rossi (Falk), art expert Captain Beckman (O'Neal) and the narrator, Pvt. Allistair Benjiman (Al Freeman, Jr.), shelter in an ancient castle, containing many priceless and irreplaceable art treasures, which the impotent Count hopes they will defend against the advancing Germans as well as, he also hopes, impregnate the Countess (Astrid Heeren) so that his line may continue. The film is based on a novel by William Eastlake published in 1969.
