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Bitter Victory

Play trailer Poster for Bitter Victory Released Jan 17, 1958 1h 42m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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78% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
British Capt. Leith (Richard Burton) knows the Libyan Desert like the back of his hand, but Maj. Brand (Curt Jurgens), who's unfamiliar with the terrain, is chosen to lead a campaign through the area because of his prestigious military credentials. During the mission, tensions build between Leith and Brand, and the latter reveals himself to be a poor fit for the dangerous operation. The power struggle between the officers is only intensified when Brand learns that his wife once loved Leith.
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Bitter Victory

Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Nicholas Ray's direction of black-and-white CinemaScope, that freak child of the 50s, is consistently brilliant in this raw, confused masterpiece. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Contemplating the dangerous games men play with macho self-images, this survives as one of Ray's greatest works. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review Variety Staff Variety Fine thesping by Richard Burton leads a series of top performances by other members of large cast. Oct 23, 2007 Full Review André Bazin L'Obs (France) With all its faults, this disappointing film is still a beautiful piece of work, if only on account of its subject or thesis, and also because its director could not be anyone other than himself. Dec 8, 2021 Full Review Jean-Luc Godard Cahiers du Cinéma Bitter Victory is not a reflection of life, it is life itself turned into film, seen from behind the mirror where the cinema intercepts it... It is not cinema, it is more than cinema. Feb 1, 2021 Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine The film is compelling in spots but the characters remain shadowy throughout. Oct 29, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Not much of a WW2 movie, this is more about the escape after the event across a desert and the rivalry of two men who love the same woman. Some pretty poor acting at times, its just about watchable but nothing special. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review ashley h Bitter Victory is a decent film. It is about a commander who receives a citation for an attack on General Erwin Rommel's headquarters. Richard Burton and Ruth Roman give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow. Nicholas Ray did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review s r Started slow, but got much better and morally twisted as things went on. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Burton was never better. A largely peaceful war movie. In this age of drone warfare, Leith'd disdain for Brand's fear of close combat is especially relevant. (But Leith in shooting the German prisoner broke the rules, he admits.) Jurgens as ever gives a wonderful performance. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member good WWII drama post WWII Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review walter m In "Bitter Victory," General Paterson(Anthony Bushell) is in a bit of a pickle with a sudden dangerous mission to steal documents behind enemy lines in Benghazi requiring recruits. Major Brand(Curt Jurgens) is an obvious choice, especially considering his experience. Even though Captain Leith(Richard Burton) is very familiar with Libya, Paterson has doubts about him, especially about his being an intellectual...and Welsh. But that doesn't mean Brand and Leith have nothing in common, like say Brand's wife Jane(Ruth Roman). "Bitter Victory" is an offbeat war movie with some interesting casting(Jurgens playing a hero on dry land while Richard Burton is not yet Richard Burton) and very good use of location photography being the main points of interest. While Brand and Leith are outsiders(yes, I know Brand is a white South African but that's a conversation for another time), the movie attempts a psychological portrait of war. The fact that it takes the most cliched approach possible(of all the suicide missions in this war, you had to choose this one...) including a shaky resolution is a huge shame and lost opportunity. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Bitter Victory

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Movie Info

Synopsis British Capt. Leith (Richard Burton) knows the Libyan Desert like the back of his hand, but Maj. Brand (Curt Jurgens), who's unfamiliar with the terrain, is chosen to lead a campaign through the area because of his prestigious military credentials. During the mission, tensions build between Leith and Brand, and the latter reveals himself to be a poor fit for the dangerous operation. The power struggle between the officers is only intensified when Brand learns that his wife once loved Leith.
Director
Nicholas Ray
Producer
Paul Graetz, Robert Laffont
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 42m
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