Counterpoint

1967
Approved
1h 47m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Charlton Heston and Maximilian Schell in Counterpoint (1967)

A famous orchestra conductor is captured by the Germans in WW2, and is forced to perform at private concerts for the Nazi generals.A famous orchestra conductor is captured by the Germans in WW2, and is forced to perform at private concerts for the Nazi generals.A famous orchestra conductor is captured by the Germans in WW2, and is forced to perform at private concerts for the Nazi generals.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

1.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Charlton Heston spent up to five hours a day at rehearsals conducting Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C-, Op. 67, Allegro con brio, the music performed over the opening credits. In his diaries, Heston describes it as better than parting the Red Sea.

Goofs
Lionel Evans refers to the number of musicians in his orchestra as 70---the bus, although a double-decker, would not hold that many. In courtyard scenes, there are not that many seen.

Quotes
Evans: Prostitution isn't the only profession ruined by amateurs.

Connections
Referenced in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Charlton Heston/Norman Mailer/David Brenner/Ian Whitcomb (1974)

Soundtracks
Symphony No. 5 in C minor I. Allegro con brio
(uncredited)
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by The Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Lawrence Foster
[Played by the orchestra over the opening title card and credits; reprise played over the end credits]

User reviews34

Review

Featured review

8/10

Memorable!

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.