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Bitter Victory

Play trailer Poster for Bitter Victory 1958,  1h 42m,  War Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 80% 15 Reviews Tomatometer 67% 500+ Ratings Popcornmeter
80% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 67% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
British Capt. Leith (Richard Burton) knows the Libyan Desert like the back of his hand, but Maj. Brand (Curt Jurgens), who's unfamiliar with the terrain, is chosen to lead a campaign through the area because of his prestigious military credentials. During the mission, tensions build between Leith and Brand, and the latter reveals himself to be a poor fit for the dangerous operation. The power struggle between the officers is only intensified when Brand learns that his wife once loved Leith.

Critics Reviews

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Dave Kehr Chicago Reader Oct 23, 2007
Nicholas Ray's direction of black-and-white CinemaScope, that freak child of the 50s, is consistently brilliant in this raw, confused masterpiece. Go to Full Review
Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Oct 23, 2007
Contemplating the dangerous games men play with macho self-images, this survives as one of Ray's greatest works. Go to Full Review
Variety Staff Variety Oct 23, 2007
Fine thesping by Richard Burton leads a series of top performances by other members of large cast. Go to Full Review
André Bazin L'Obs (France) Dec 8, 2021
With all its faults, this disappointing film is still a beautiful piece of work, if only on account of its subject or thesis, and also because its director could not be anyone other than himself. Go to Full Review
Jean-Luc Godard Cahiers du Cinéma Feb 1, 2021
Bitter Victory is not a reflection of life, it is life itself turned into film, seen from behind the mirror where the cinema intercepts it... It is not cinema, it is more than cinema. Go to Full Review
Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Oct 29, 2019
The film is compelling in spots but the characters remain shadowy throughout. Go to Full Review
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Bitter Victory

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Cast & Crew

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Nicholas Ray

Director

Richard Burton

Capt. Leith

Curd Jürgens

Maj. David Brand

Ruth Roman

Jane Brand

Raymond Pellegrin

Mekrane

Anthony Bushell

Gen. R.S. Patterson

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Bitter Victory

Bitter Victory (1958) Bitter Victory (1958) Bitter Victory (1958) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis British Capt. Leith (Richard Burton) knows the Libyan Desert like the back of his hand, but Maj. Brand (Curt Jurgens), who's unfamiliar with the terrain, is chosen to lead a campaign through the area because of his prestigious military credentials. During the mission, tensions build between Leith and Brand, and the latter reveals himself to be a poor fit for the dangerous operation. The power struggle between the officers is only intensified when Brand learns that his wife once loved Leith.
Director
Nicholas Ray
Producer
Paul Graetz, Robert Laffont
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jan 17, 1958, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 42m
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