Kennwort: Morituri

A very effective and imaginative war drama. Brando’s excellent SS officer is well supported by Yul Brynner in the role of a captain caught between a rock and a hard place. The story, filled with snappy lines, is mostly unpredictable and surprising in places that would simply have to be shot differently nowadays. Jerry Goldsmith's music has a special motif and thunders away for all it’s worth. Rather an old movie, but still a great watch. (06.02.2011)

There are movie enthusiasts who are capable of criticizing a war film for featuring a different type of tank, plane, or any weapon than the one used in a specific battle, but those things usually leave me unfazed. However, Morituri is a case of a film that was written by a screenwriter who knows very little about the realities of World War II, the style of warfare, and the real life of sailors at sea, and frankly, he doesn't even care. He writes a fictional adventure story that the director skillfully manages to bring to life and cast with famous actors of their time. The result satisfies many viewers, and they experience tension and cheer for the heroes. However, in some scenes, I found myself shaking my head, or to be more precise, my lips mostly twitched in a tolerant smile. Despite Marlon Brando's charisma and his high-standard performance, and Yul Brynner's arguably best performance of his career, I can't give the film more than 3 stars. Overall impression: 65%. (03.03.2015)