Before Winter Comes

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1969 film by J. Lee Thompson

title: "Before Winter Comes" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1969-films", "films-set-in-1945", "films-set-in-austria", "films-shot-in-austria", "1960s-english-language-films", "films-directed-by-j.-lee-thompson", "1969-drama-films", "british-war-drama-films", "columbia-pictures-films", "films-scored-by-ron-grainer", "films-about-deserters", "british-world-war-ii-films", "1969-british-films"] description: "1969 film by J. Lee Thompson" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_Winter_Comes" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1969 film by J. Lee Thompson ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox film"]

Field	Value
name	Before Winter Comes
image	Before the winter comes (movie).jpg
caption	Theatrical release poster
director	J. Lee Thompson
producer	Robert Emmett Ginna
writer	Andrew Sinclair
based_on	story The Interpreter by Frederick L. Keefe
starring	David Niven
Topol
Anna Karina
music	Ron Grainer
cinematography	Gilbert Taylor
editing	Willy Kemplen
studio	Windward
distributor	Columbia Pictures
released
runtime	103 minutes
country	United Kingdom
language	English
::

Plot

Before Winter Comes takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II. British Major Giles Burnside is assigned to an refugee camp in occupied Austria; his mission is to send the groups of displaced civilians to either the Russian zone or the American zone. Burnside is a by-the-book officer but he runs into trouble with the translation of the many different languages. However, one of the refugees, Janovic, can speak many languages and is willing to help. Janovic quickly conveys Burnside's orders and helps the camp run smoothly. Janovic runs into romance with a lovely innkeeper, Maria, until he discovers her affair with Burnside. Meanwhile, Janovic is found to be a Red Army deserter, who should be returned to the Soviet authorities to be executed. Burnside offers to help him escape, but Janovic cannot decide whether to trust him.

During a down moment Major Burnside tells a story to Pilkington about a brave Major who tried to defuse a bomb on a bridge by walking into enemy fire. He describes it as a chance to win a medal for bravery. As he finishes, the story switches to a general who reveals that Burnside was the major in question and his "brave" mistake led to the death of some 200 men and his posting to the camp.

Janovic makes a vain attempt at escaping to Switzerland but is captured by Americans and returned to Burnside. As Burnside organises his release to Linz and freedom, he is contacted by the British army who inform him that Janovic is to be sent to Freistadt (and his death) to prevent any conflict with the Russians. Burnside reluctantly sends Janovic to Freistadt but conceals it by labelling the truck as Linz. At the last moment, Lieutenant Pilkington arrives and threatens to stop the truck but is ordered not to intervene. Pilkington races after Janovic but is too late.

The film ends with Burnside being assigned to Indonesia and another camp, denied the chance to rejoin his unit. Pilkington visits Maria and breaks down angrily at Burnside. Burnside is commended by his sergeant for being a fine officer while the film ends with Janovic in a truck surrounded by Russian soldiers, his fate unknown.

Cast

David Niven as Major Burnside
Topol as Janovic
Anna Karina as Maria
John Hurt as Lieutenant Pilkington
Anthony Quayle as Brigadier Bewley
Ori Levy as Captain Kamenev
John Collin as Sergeant Woody
Karel Stepanek as Count Kerassy
Guy Deghy as Kovacs
Mark Malicz as Komenski
Gertan Klauber as Russian major
Hana Maria Pravda as Beata
George Innes as Bill
Tony Selby as Ted
Hugh Futcher as Joe
Chris Sandford as Johnny
Colin Spaull as Alf
Larry Dann as Al
Jeffry Wickham as Captain Roots
Alysoun Austin as A.T.S. driver
John Savident as British corporal

Production

The film was based on a short story The Interpreter which had appeared in The New Yorker. Screenwriter Andrew Sinclair says David Niven insisted on a title change as he did not play the interpreter.

J. Lee Thompson said he made the film to return to more intimate dramas of earlier in his career such as Woman in a Dressing Gown.'Chairman' Shot in Crossfire Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 6 Feb 1969: h13.Anyone can make an explosion Malcolm, Derek. The Guardian 3 Feb 1969: 8.

Niven's fee was $250,000.Multi-Million $$$ Look to 'Zabriskie' Haber, Joyce. Los Angeles Times 3 Apr 1969: f12. It was an early screen role for Topol, who had become famous playing Fiddler on the Roof on stage in London. J. Lee Thompson called Topol "the Frank Sinatra of Israel, rugged, handsome, a Clark Gable type or a European version of Burt Lancaster."Topol, the New Screen Lover Date: Friday, Feb. 7, 1969 page 10 Publication: Daily Mail

Filming took place south of Salzburg. John Hurt recalled "Niven was very helpful" during the shoot "because Chaim (Topol) was being difficult and tricksy."

In 2023, actor Larry Dann dedicated a chapter of his autobiography "Oh, What A Lovely Memoir" to share his memories of the making of this production.

Release

The film opened at the Sutton Theatre in New York City on 24 March 1969 and grossed $17,846 in its first week.

References

"Before Winter Comes - details".
Morley, Sheridan. (1985). "The Other Side of the Moon". Harper & Row.
Lord, Graham. (2004). "Niv : the authorized biography of David Niven". T. Dunne Books.
"Larry Dann - Oh, What a Lovely Memoir".
(2 April 1969). "More Than Sex and Easter Stir".

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