Hannibal Brooks
Hannibal Brooks | |
---|---|
Directed by | Michael Winner |
Screenplay by | |
Story by |
|
Produced by | Michael Winner |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Robert Paynter |
Edited by |
|
Music by | Francis Lai |
Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Budget | £1 million[2] or less than $3 million[3] |
Hannibal Brooks is a 1969 British war comedy film directed by Michael Winner and written by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, based on a story by Winner and Tom Wright.[4] It stars Oliver Reed, Michael J. Pollard and Wolfgang Preiss.
The film follows a
Plot
Lance Corporal Stephen "Hannibal" Brooks is a British prisoner of war who is put to work in Munich zoo, looking after a female Asian elephant named Lucy. When the zoo is bombed by the Americans, the zoo director decides that the zoo is unsafe for the elephant. Brooks is sent along with hostile German soldier Kurt, a friendly German soldier named Willy and Vronia, a female cook to accompany the elephant to Innsbruck Zoo via a train.
They are forced to walk when Colonel von Haller, an
When Brooks gets close to the border with Lucy, he is met by von Haller, who tells him to walk to Switzerland and Vronia, who has changed sides after being captured. Von Haller proposes the three go together to Switzerland as he intends to defect due to Germany's deteriorating military position. They are joined by Packy and his partisans near a German border post. The plan is to use von Haller to bluff their way through but he betrays them. Vronia tries to warn the others and is shot in the back. After another long fight with the Germans, Brooks and Lucy eventually get to Switzerland with Packy and his remaining partisans.
Cast
- Oliver Reed as Stephen 'Hannibal' Brooks
- Michael J. Pollard as Packy
- Wolfgang Preiss as Colonel von Haller
- Helmuth Lohner as Willi
- Peter Carsten as Kurt
- Karin Baal as Vronia
- Ralf Wolter as Dr. Mendel
- John Alderton as Bernard
- Jürgen Draeger as Semi
- Ernst Fritz Fürbringer as Elephant keeper Kellerman
- Erik Jelde as Zoo director Stern
- James Donald as Padre
- Aida The Elephant as Lucy
Filming
Michael Winner had meant to make a film about William the Conqueror but been unable to raise finance. When that film fell through he had Hannibal Brooks ready to go.[6] Michael J Pollard was paid $75,000 for his role. (He had received $14,000 for Bonnie and Clyde.[7]) "Pollard will be a major star of the 70s," said Winner.[8] Location shooting took place in Austria and Munich in May 1968.[5][9]
Paperback novelization
Releasing it slightly in advance of the film (normal for the era), Lancer Books published a novelization of the screenplay, by Lou Cameron, a ubiquitous, notable and award-winning pulpsmith of the 60s through the 80s, among whose specialties was novels of men at war.
Reception
References
- ^ a b Champlin, Charles (April 3, 1969). "'Hannibal' Opens Today in Westwood". Los Angeles Times. Part IV, p. 1.
- ^ There was a crooked rail Wright, Ian. The Guardian 29 May 1968: 7.
- ^ Article 5 -- No Title SHIVAS, MARK. Los Angeles Times (19230 Mar 1969: t1.
- ^ Gallagher, Paul (1 February 2016). "'You Don't Share A Hotel with Oliver Reed': Michael Winner Takes Two Elephants to Switzerland". Flashbak. Archived from the original on 2 January 2020. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ ISBN 9780753505199.
- ^ Michael J. Pollard in the Alps, or How C. W. Moss Won the War By MARK SHIVASBLUDENZ, Austria. New York Times 28 July 1968: 82.
- ^ Rubber-Faced Mike Has Lots of Support in Oscar Race Norma Lee Browning. Chicago Tribune 7 Apr 1968: e12.
- ^ JOYCE HABER: Michael Pollard: An Establishment Hippie Los Angeles Times 16 Mar 1969: v13.
- ^ MOVIE CALL SHEET: A Role in 'Hello, Dolly!' Martin, Betty. Los Angeles Times 19 Feb 1968: c29.
- ^ Canby, Vincent (May 1, 1969). "Screen: A Pachyderm and a P.O.W.". The New York Times. 52.
- ^ "Film Reviews: Hannibal Brooks". Variety. March 5, 1969. 6.
- ^ Terry, Clifford (June 25, 1969). "Hannibal Brooks". Chicago Tribune. Section 2, p. 5.
- ^ Arnold, Gary (April 26, 1969). "Hannibal Brooks". The Washington Post. E6.
- ^ "Hannibal Brooks". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 36 (424): 102. May 1969.
External links
- Hannibal Brooks at IMDb