CheerupSilver Very Cool!!!

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Kodie Bird True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

Kamila Bell This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Wuchak Released in 1964 and shot in B&W, "36 Hours" takes place during WWII right before the Allied Normandy invasion. James Garner plays Major Pike, who has detailed info on the attack. He's drugged & kidnapped by the Germans and wakes up in a supposed US military hospital where he's told its six years after the war. Will he discover the ruse before inadvertently revealing details about D-Day? Eva Marie Saint plays his nurse, Rod Taylor his doctor and Werner Peters a Nazi. John Banner (aka Sgt. Schultz) is also on hand.The best thing about this movie is the ingenious con of the plot and the anticipation of how Pike will figure out what's really happening and how he'll escape. It's similar to 1958's "The Young Lions" and 1964's "The Americanization of Emily" in that it's a WWII drama/thriller shot in B&W. The plot's so intriguing that it's been borrowed for other movies and TV shows, like three episodes of the Star Trek franchise (The Next Generation, Voyager and Enterprise). While not great like "The Young Lions" it's well done. The dated score detracts, however, as does the B&W photography.The movie runs 115 minutes and was shot in Lisbon, Portugal, and Wawona Hotel and grounds, Yosemite National Park, California.GRADE: B

secondtake 36 Hours (1965)There is a huge trick to this sparkling, powerful movie. And some might say the trick is too much. But think of the 1962 "Manchurian Candidate" and you have an idea what level of inventive storytelling is at work, and which indeed works. "36 Hours" is not as sensational as that film earlier, and for that reason not as memorable. But in some ways it's equal to it. The acting, especially by the four main leads, is first rate. It's convincing in a plot that takes some work to be convincing. There are hints here of the landmark television series "The Prisoner" at first, too (that series launched in 1967 but McGoohan, the central planner of "The Prisoner," outlined it in a 1965 interview!).At first you think this will be another war film, with James Garner playing a half-convincing top military adviser and courier (he's too young, too good looking, and far too casual). But then he gets kidnapped and the twists that follow are what make the movie. Garner gets better and better in his role, playing the game several ways as it unfolds. At his side is Eva Marie Saint, who is excellent even down to a fair middle-European accent. A charming and disarming German doctor played by Rod Taylor is key to this whole charade, as he, too, plays two sides to a coin. The more severely obvious SS officer (Werner Peters) is brilliant, and not a caricature, and he represents the whole German evil machine circa 1944. Or is it 1950? Keep a grip on reality as you watch. There are some small subtle cues as you go. For one thing, it's expected that most of the audience in 1965 still knew that D-Day was Jun 6, 1944. They will play with the date of that as if you know. And there was (famously) a delay due to rainy weather that shows up, too.You might even watch a D-Day classic like "The Longest Day" just to set the stage and get some broad facts, if you feel gung-ho. Or dive into this for the filming (gorgeous widescreen black and white) and acting, as well as the smart story. A great discovery.

atlasmb A film called Resisting Enemy Interrogation was released in 1944. Ostensibly, it was produced to dramatically demonstrate that any information (other than name, rank and serial number) provided by captured American soldiers could potentially cost American lives.In the film 36 Hours (1965), Major Pike (James Garner)is a captured American serviceman. He is the object of a clever German ruse devised by Major Gerber(Rod Taylor)to get him to reveal inside information about the Allied plans for the D-Day invasion. The action is set in 1944, so we can assume that Major Pike has been briefed on German interrogation techniques and warned of the various ploys that might be used to soften him up. In fact, this is asserted in the film.Eva Marie Saint plays the part of Anna, Gerber's collaborator. Playing on Pike's vulnerability, she helps convince Pike that the date and the location of his convalescence are not what he might have expected. I do not want to reveal much more about the plot, because the main enjoyments of this story come from the premise of the film and the various plot twists. Suffice it to say that this story of intrigue is worthy of Hitchcock.The title refers to the length of time the SS gives Major Gerber to prove the value of his unorthodox interrogation method. The time limit helps drive the action--fine use of a Hitchcock method, but without frequent images of a clock counting down. Speaking of Hitchcock, Eva Marie Saint played in North by North West (1959) and gives a performance as convincing in 36 Hours.I recommend this film for it plot that captures the imagination, the excellent performances by all actors, and a quality score.Watch for John Banner's portrayal of a German sergeant. In 1965 he will also begin his role as Sergeant Schultz in TV's Hogan's Heroes.

dbborroughs James Garner plays an intelligent officer who is captured in the eve of the D-Day invasion. The Germans try to trick him into think six years had passed and that the war was over in order to get him to reveal what he knows.Off beat spy yarn is a clever idea but never quite gels. Give it points for not going in the direction you'd expect, it doesn't take long before Garner figures out its ruse and then things don't go as you'd think.I like the film more for what it tries to do rather than for what it accomplishes. Its an interesting misfire, thats worth seeing for that reason