36 Hours (1964) – Encore Review

“[to Gerber] Take my advice; don’t try to be a leader. I have discovered it’s much safer to be a follower.” – Otto Schack

Number of Times Seen – 3 Times (Aug 2003, 8 Apr 2014 and 24 Nov 2021)

Link to original review – Here

Brief Synopsis – On the eve of D-Day an Army Intelligence officer is kidnapped by the Nazis and made to believe that it is six years in the future with hope that he will reveal the Allied pan for invasion.

My Take on it –This is a movie that I was introduced to by and 18 years ago and it still manages to resonate in my mind because the story is superbly set up throughout.

This movie has such an amazing premise that they manage to present so well.

The amount of detail involved for such an operation to actually succeed is amazing and this film shows the viewer how such a deception can be potentially carried out.

James Garner is superb in the lead role and convincingly plays this character throughout.

Rod Taylor is great as his adversary who is doing hos best to get the D-Day information out o his new ‘friend’.

The tone of the film changes during the second half and doesn’t manage to stay as powerful as the psychological warfare of the first half, yet still says so engaging and entertaining throughout due to a few nice surprises along the way.

Garner’s chemistry with Eva Marie Saint is great and is comes across quite realistic throughout.

Highly Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – This movie features both Sig Ruman who played Sergeant Schultz in Stalag 17 (1953) and John Banner who played a character with the same basic name and profession in Hogan’s Heroes (1965). Coincidentally, Ruman’s only scene is with Banner. (From IMDB)

Rating – Oscar Worthy (9/10) (upgrade from original review)