It might be possible 50 years on, to make the casting choices work that James Clavell tried to do with this. Back in 1971, however, casting Omar Sharif as the teutonic "Vogel" opposite Michael Caine's only marginally more convincing "Captain" really does stretch the imagination a little too much. Add arch-Englishmen Nigel Davenport ("Gruber") and Brian Blessed ("Korski") and you have a recipe for characterisation disaster. Though well produced, with plenty of attention to detail and a typically strong score from John Barry, that is what we get! It is set amidst the bitter and rancorous 30 years war - maybe not an historical event known to many in Germany, let alone anywhere else - and has the ingredients of a good action drama. Armies, villagers - even individuals fight over the roles of their churches in their lives - Protestant v Catholic - a story of battling traditions that should have been far more engaging and enthralling. Clavell's adaptation of his own novel keeps the story tight and it is action-packed - it just doesn't ever catch fire. At just over the two hour mark, it is a long watch with those at the top of the bill looking out of place. They just don't gel at all well at any stage. Pity - this story of religious intolerance (on both sides) should have made for a good film topic. Just not this one, so much.
