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21 Hours at Munich

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Tomatometer 4 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The most famous sporting event in the world is rocked by an act of political violence, and the police are forced to act quickly in order to prevent more carnage. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, militant group Black September murders two Israeli athletes and takes several others hostage in an effort to win the release of Palestinian detainees. As the situation becomes increasingly dangerous, Munich's police chief (William Holden) tries to end the crisis.
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21 Hours at Munich

Critics Reviews

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Frank J. Avella Edge Media Network 12/14/2021
B
The casting is just plain bizarre. William Holden, one of the greats, plays the head of the Munich police - which makes very little sense. He doesn't bother attempting an accent so it's quite off-putting. Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 02/12/2016
B-
Relates in a straight-forward and dry methodical way to the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Go to Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews 07/09/2009
2.5/4
...undoubtedly a vast improvement over Spielberg's nigh unwatchable Munich. Go to Full Review Scott Weinberg DVDTalk.com 12/05/2005
4/5
I watched 21 Hours to Munich with a careful eye trained for any sort of preachiness or "opinionizing" from either direction, and I was pleased to notice that stuff only by its absence. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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09/13/2013 Suspenseful and true to the story a great piece of 70s cinema See more 11/28/2012 A good movie minus good action moments See more 07/21/2012 I remember this playing out on television when I was a child. To those who condemn the movie, whether its cinematography or style, either you don't know what you're talking about (probably because you weren't alive then) or you don't know what you're talking about (probably because you weren't alive then) or you're racist and weren't alive then. It is an honest retelling of a horrible and chaotic time. This was not the only terrorist act then, but just one of many. The world MUST NEVER CAPITULATE to terrorism. No one would ever be safe if anyone did. See more 04/11/2012 After watching Steven Spielberg's Munich I can honestly say that this movie was very unconvincing and fairly weak. See more 10/18/2011 A well made TV docudrama from the 70s. See more 09/19/2011 Interesting portrayal of the events surrounding the 1972 Olympics. See more Read all reviews
21 Hours at Munich

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Cast & Crew

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William Graham

Director

William Holden

Chief of Police Manfred Schreiber

Shirley Knight

Anneliese Graes

Franco Nero

Issa

Richard Basehart

Chancellor Willy Brandt

Anthony Quayle

General Zvi Zamir
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21 Hours at Munich

21 Hours at Munich (1976) 21 Hours at Munich (1976) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The most famous sporting event in the world is rocked by an act of political violence, and the police are forced to act quickly in order to prevent more carnage. At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, militant group Black September murders two Israeli athletes and takes several others hostage in an effort to win the release of Palestinian detainees. As the situation becomes increasingly dangerous, Munich's police chief (William Holden) tries to end the crisis.
Director
William Graham
Producer
Frank von Zerneck, Robert Greenwald
Screenwriter
Edward Hume, Howard Fast
Production Co
Filmways Television
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 40m
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