Details

Release year: 1965

Storyline

In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.

Top credits

Directors

Sidney Lumet

Writers

Cast

Sean Connery — Joe Roberts
Harry Andrews — R.S.M. Wilson
Ian Bannen — Harris
Alfred Lynch — George Stevens

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Awards

1 win & 5 nominations

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Did you know

• Filming took place in Almería, Spain in a sandy wasteland called Cabo de Gata starting in September 1964 for five weeks. An old Spanish fort in Málaga was used for the prison. Many people associated with the production had regarded the filming as pleasant, despite difficult conditions. The temperatures rarely fell below 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius), and despite the 2,000 gallons of pure water that were shipped in for the crew, almost everyone succumbed to dysentery during the shoot.

• Filming began on September 14, 1964, in Almería, Spain. As a result, Sir Sean Connery was unable to attend the premiere of Goldfinger (1964), on which he had just completed work.

• Cinematographer,Oswald Morris, BSC, used three wide-angle lenses: a 24mm, a 21mm, and an 18mm as Sidney Lumet deliberately wanted distortion in the faces, even the close-ups.