{"id":46343,"date":"2019-12-29T17:31:05","date_gmt":"2019-12-30T00:31:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46343"},"modified":"2021-07-27T10:40:37","modified_gmt":"2021-07-27T17:40:37","slug":"five-graves-to-cairo-1943","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46343","title":{"rendered":"Five Graves to Cairo (1943)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;To safeguard ourselves against all eventualities, we prepare.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-to-Cairo-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-to-Cairo-Poster-199x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"199\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-46391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-to-Cairo-Poster-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-to-Cairo-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-to-Cairo-Poster.jpg 664w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 199px) 100vw, 199px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring World War II, a British soldier (Franchot Tone) stranded in a hotel run by a nervous Egyptian (Akim Tamiroff) and a cynical French housemaid (Anne Baxter) goes undercover as a club-footed double agent, garnering vital intelligence from Field Marshall Rommel (Erich von Stroheim).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Akim Tamiroff Films<\/li>\n<li>Anne Baxter Films<\/li>\n<li>Billy Wilder Films<\/li>\n<li>Deserts<\/li>\n<li>Erich von Stroheim Films<\/li>\n<li>Franchot Tone Films<\/li>\n<li>Mistaken or Hidden Identities<\/li>\n<li>Spies<\/li>\n<li>World War II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nBilly Wilder directed this adaptation of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lajos_B%C3%ADr%C3%B3\">Lajos Bir\u00f3&#8217;s<\/a> 1917 play, updating it from WWI to WWII and shifting the location from Russia to Egypt to reflect current geopolitical realities. Thanks to an authentically adoring fan letter, Wilder was able to score his idol von Stroheim: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64325\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-son-Stroheim2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>in a pivotal supporting role as real-life <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Erwin_Rommel\">Field Marshall Rommel<\/a>, a suitably villainous foil (&#8220;Rice pudding in Egypt&#8230; One never knows if it&#8217;s raisins or flies.&#8221;) for Tone, who likewise gives a solid and compelling performance. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone2-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Baxter&#8217;s French accent is surprisingly innocuous; she nicely portrays the world-weariness of a woman who understands the games she must play in order to achieve her goals. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-64322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Baxter-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The tightly scripted screenplay &#8212; beginning with a stark, wordless opening sequence in the desert &#8212; never lets up on tension, providing plenty of opportunities for characters to risk their lives in an uncertain world of war and hidden identities. This one remains worth a look.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Franchot Tone as &#8220;Paul Davos&#8221;<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46392\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Tone-128x96.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Erich von Stroheim as Rommel<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-von-Stroheim.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-von-Stroheim.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46389\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-von-Stroheim.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-von-Stroheim-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-von-Stroheim-128x96.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>John F. Seitz&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"448\" height=\"336\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-46390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Cinematography.png 448w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Five-Graves-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 448px) 100vw, 448px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as a still-compelling war-time drama. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0035884\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/75054\/five-graves-to-cairo#articles-reviews?articleId=275599\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4012wild.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1943\/05\/27\/archives\/five-graves-to-cairo-drama-of-world-conflict-with-von-stroheim-and.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;To safeguard ourselves against all eventualities, we prepare.&#8221; Synopsis: During World War II, a British soldier (Franchot Tone) stranded in a hotel run by a nervous Egyptian (Akim Tamiroff) and a cynical French housemaid (Anne Baxter) goes undercover as a club-footed double agent, garnering vital intelligence from Field Marshall Rommel (Erich von Stroheim). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Akim Tamiroff Films Anne Baxter Films Billy Wilder Films Deserts Erich von Stroheim Films Franchot Tone Films Mistaken or Hidden Identities Spies&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=46343\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46343","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46343","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46343"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46343\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":74452,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46343\/revisions\/74452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46343"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46343"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46343"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}