The 1973 film The Blockhouse is a drama about a group of forced laborers who are trapped in a bunker during D-Day and must find ways to survive. It is based on the novel Le Blockhaus by Jean-Paul Clébert, which is said to be inspired by a true story.
Peter Sellers stars as Rouquet, a French laborer who is trapped in the bunker with a group of men from different countries. The men are initially divided by their nationalities and languages, but they must learn to work together in order to survive.
The bunker is well-stocked with food and water, but the men are soon faced with other challenges, such as boredom, claustrophobia, and the threat of disease. They also begin to question their own sanity as the days turn into weeks and then months.
Over the course of the film, the men develop close bonds with each other. They share their stories and their hopes for the future. They also learn to appreciate the simple things in life, such as a good meal and a warm place to sleep.
The Blockhouse is a powerful and moving film about the human spirit. It is a story about survival, resilience, and the importance of hope.
Plot summary:
- A group of forced laborers are trapped in a bunker during D-Day when heavy shelling collapses the entrances.
- The men are from different countries and languages, and they are initially divided. However, they must learn to work together in order to survive.
- The bunker is well-stocked with food and water, but the men soon face other challenges, such as boredom, claustrophobia, and the threat of disease.
- Over the course of the film, the men develop close bonds with each other. They share their stories and their hopes for the future.
The Blockhouse is a powerful and moving film about the human spirit. It is a story about survival, resilience, and the importance of hope.
Differences between the film and the novel:
The film is more focused on the relationships between the men in the bunker, while the novel is more focused on the psychological effects of being trapped in a confined space for a long period of time.
The film also has a more hopeful ending than the novel. In the film, some of the men are eventually rescued, while in the novel, all of the men die.
Overall, The Blockhouse is a well-made and thought-provoking film.
Cast
- Peter Sellers as Rouquet
- Charles Aznavour as Visconti
- Jeremy Kemp as Grabinski
- Per Oscarsson as Lund
- Peter Vaughan as Aufret
- Nicholas Jones as Kromer
- Leon Lissek as Kozhek
- Alfred Lynch as Larshen
Director: Clive Rees
Writers: John Gould, Clive Rees
Box Office Gross: NA
Distributor: Cannon Films
Genre: Drama
Release Date: 6 June 1973