The plot is not quite credible, although it is splendidly acted. You actually can't fail to observe how Maximilan Schell enjoys his part, and Charlton Heston came into this film directly from the vaults in the Sistine Chapel as Michelangelo and makes almost the same hopelessly stubborn case of idiotic obstinacy here. However, the weak point of the film is the colonel, (Anton Diffring, who almost exclusively played wicked German Nazi officers). It's not plausible that any German officer would have treated musicians like that, coldly lining them up for execution with all their instruments with no respect or regard for music at all - this is extremely alien to German mentality. Of course, it makes an ideally dramatic plot, and you follow it with interest, while also Kathryn Hayes fails to convince, both as lover and musician. Nevertheless, it's a very enjoyable film, especially for musicians, as it is the music that makes the film, with Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Wagner dominating and leading the show. It's horribly exciting as well, and although, as I said, the plot is very far from convincing and not in the least realistic, you buy the end with delight. It might have happened that an American orchestra like this could have got caught behind the German lines in winter 1944-45, but if such an incident occurred, they have made a mammoth out of it, and in reality the outcome would have been no more than just a harmless incident. Here it is blown up with a lot of dead bodies, as the Germans in the 60s had to be made as wicked as possible.

Let me qualify those 7 stars. You have to like Heston, Schell, WWII movies, and classical music in order to appreciate this movie. Heston is the conductor of an orchestra that is caught behind German lines during the Battle of the Bulge. Schell is a Prussian style educated yet cultured officer who is caught between his appreciation for culture and his orders not to delay the battle by wasting time on taking prisoners. The orchestra is USO. A side conflict is provided by the orchestra taking in 2 GIs who are also cut off behind enemy lines and hiding them as members of the orchestra. This is a war, "small w", movie. I remember a lot of grimacing from Heston and Schell, but that is what they do! Look beyond the cardboard characters and you may find a good little picture about a protagonist and an antagonist playing chess without a board.

It's now March 15,2006 and I'm adding this remark to my review because of some emails I got asking me to make it known if I find a way to obtain a copy of this film. I have found someone selling this film. I haven't bought one yet, but I plan to. I notice that he says the copy is fair to good. So don't expect wide screen and surrond. But the prices seem resonable, and he even has another one I'm looking for; W.W. and the DIxie Dance Kings. Here is the web address: www.ioffer.com/shops/cinema70. Take your time and make sure you know what your getting. Good Luck This is my second comment on this film. My first comments were brief and some time ago. Since them I notice some quite derisive comments have been left and I wanted to leave a current opinion. The most common negative statement is absurd. Certainly, the story line is fictional, and not that likely to happen. But come on! The fact of the matter is. A symphony orchestra is caught behind the lines of a German advance. And the egos of the two main characters ( the conductor and the German commander) stage their own personal battle. The German commander want a personal performance, the conductor knows they will be killed if he complies. He stalls trying to buy time, and thus save as many lives as possible. This was well acted, and I feel well written. I found myself caring what happened to these people. I wish it was available on DVD.

The very first movie I looked up when I stumbled on the IMDB was "Counterpoint." For years I had told people about this movie and how much of an impact it had on me, but no one had ever seen it -- some tried to convince me that I had imagined the whole thing! In their defense, it is a rather strange plot. I give this movie a substantial amount of the credit for beginning my appreciation for classical music. Unfortunately, you can only see it by purchasing it (I would presume). If the idea of a WWII/classical music/POW/intensely-driven-conductor movie sounds stupid, it probably isn't worth the price. If it sounds like it's right up your alley -- you shouldn't be disappointed.