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Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious

Play trailer Poster for Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious Released Oct 13, 1965 1h 37m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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While flying over Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, Capt. Hank Wilson (Robert Redford) and Sgt. Lucky Finder (Michael Connors) are forced to parachute into enemy territory. They land in a small town, where they are taken prisoner by the lonesome Wilhelm Frick (Alec Guinness). Frick imprisons them in his cellar, but treats them well. The only problem is that the war has actually ended -- and Frick, delighted to have company, decides not to inform his "prisoners" of the situation.

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Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious

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Steve D comedy that forgot the humor. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 07/25/23 Full Review Audience Member <div style="width:280px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/sitiuation-hopless-but-not-serious-11934733"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/11/93/47/11934733_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">Situation Hopeless But Not Serious </a> - Sir Alec Guinness</div></div> Here's a forgotten gem. This is a very strange, but satirical WWII comedy. This is Robert Redford's second film. A pair of American pilots are shot down over a German village near the end of WW II. They are captured by a lonely old man, played by Sir Alec Guiness, who holds them prisoner in his Gothic, vaulted wine cellar. The captor likes having the two for company and keeps them in his cellar long after the war is over. However, he conveniently fails to inform them of this. The prisoners remain there for seven years in pretty nice accommodations, but slowly going stir crazy. While they wait, the old man spins them tales of a Utopian Nazi world as he tries to decide whether or not to let them go. It's funny, but also a bit sinister as we wonder if they will ever correctly appraise and resolve their situation. Based on a novel by Robert Shaw, this is one that Kurt Vonnegut or Joseph Heller fans might enjoy. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious

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Situation Hopeless -- But Not Serious

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Movie Info

Synopsis While flying over Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, Capt. Hank Wilson (Robert Redford) and Sgt. Lucky Finder (Michael Connors) are forced to parachute into enemy territory. They land in a small town, where they are taken prisoner by the lonesome Wilhelm Frick (Alec Guinness). Frick imprisons them in his cellar, but treats them well. The only problem is that the war has actually ended -- and Frick, delighted to have company, decides not to inform his "prisoners" of the situation.
Director
Gottfried Reinhardt
Producer
Gottfried Reinhardt
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 13, 1965, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 22, 2016
Runtime
1h 37m
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