Plot synopsis discrepancy
Jan. 28th, 1971 12:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
michael_gothard_archiveIn the plot synopsis supplied in press pack, the death of Michael Gothard's character, Hansen, is described as follows:
"Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him."
However, this is not how Hansen dies - in fact, we don't witness his death on film.
The Captain does fire a shot, hitting either Hansen or his horse, which falls on top of him. Hansen then struggles out from under his horse, barely able to stand.
The child soldier, Julio, then runs from cover, and hits Hansen from behind, with a vicious blow from a flail. Hansen goes down, writhing on the ground, half-paralysed.
Hansen calls out for Vogel, obviously seeing him as the most compassionate of the triumvirate that now rules the village, and begs him: “Give me a knife. Don’t leave me alive. Please Vogel”, but Vogel is unmoved.
Hansen then calls to Father Sebastian: “Help me. I’m a Catholic, please for the love of God”, but the priest is equally impassive.
Then Hansen manages to turn to look at The Captain, saying, “He’s the Devil incarnate!”
The Captain just calls for one of his men, Graff, who stands over Hansen, and draws a small knife from his hat.
The Captain had already stated that the penalty for rape would be castration, and we are left to imagine what subsequently occurs.
Full plot synopsis as supplied:
Vogel (OMAR SHARIF), once a teacher, is now wandering, begging. He comes upon a beautiful village, untouched by the ravages and the Thirty Years’ War.
A band of ruthless mercenaries led by their captain (Michael Caine) surrounds the village and shortly thereafter Vogel begins a verbal battle for his life and the survival of the village. He convinces the Captain to spare these people and winter there away from the war, to protect the village in return for comfortable lodgings. After the Captain tells his men of the new plan, some of them rebel against it.
Inge Hoffman (MADELINE HINDE), innocent and very beautiful, and Erica (FLORINDA BOLKAN), elegant and fascinating, are returning to the village unaware of the soldiers’ presence. Some of the mercenaries begin to molest Inge, but she is led away by her father (ARTHUR O’CONNELL).
At the Captain’s request to see Gruber (NIGEL DAVENPORT), who is head of the village, Vogel finds him with his family and Father Sebastian (PER OSCARSSON), the village priest, at the shrine. Vogel tells him of the Captain’s bargain, and in spite of objections from the priest, Gruber agrees.
Vogel becomes very ill and is nursed back to health by Inge, Erica and Frau Hoffman (IRENE PRADOR).
The Captain himself wants Erica but she is Gruber’s mistress. Erica becomes his property when he challenges Gruber at dice and wins.
Tensions begin to tighten. Led by Father Sebastian, the villagers and Catholic soldiers are angered when the Captain moves the holy shrine. Vogel cools their tempers.
That evening at the shrine Hansen (MICHAEL GOTHARD) tries to rape Inge, but Vogel saves her. Later, Hansen and his men try unsuccessfully to ambush the Captain. They flee from the village, but Hansen vows to return with more men.
Inge tells Andreas (CHRISTIAN ROBERTS), her childhood sweetheart, that she will not marry him. She is in love with Vogel. The Captain, who falls in love with Erica, suspects her of witchcraft and questions her about her past.
Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him. The village is at peace for a short while. Then with news of approaching armies, the Captain prepares for war again and leaves with his men.
Father Sebastian and Gruber, fearful of the situation, go into hiding. Father Sebastian discovers Erica praying to Satan and condemns her to be burned as a witch. A mercenary left behind to protect the village fights with the priest and they fall into the fire to die with Erica.
When the Captain badly wounded, returns to the village, he meets Inge and Vogel in the forest, who warn him of an ambush ordered by Gruber. But he dies, before the attack. Vogel leaves the village alone and the valley is safe once more …
"Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him."
However, this is not how Hansen dies - in fact, we don't witness his death on film.
The Captain does fire a shot, hitting either Hansen or his horse, which falls on top of him. Hansen then struggles out from under his horse, barely able to stand.
The child soldier, Julio, then runs from cover, and hits Hansen from behind, with a vicious blow from a flail. Hansen goes down, writhing on the ground, half-paralysed.
Hansen calls out for Vogel, obviously seeing him as the most compassionate of the triumvirate that now rules the village, and begs him: “Give me a knife. Don’t leave me alive. Please Vogel”, but Vogel is unmoved.
Hansen then calls to Father Sebastian: “Help me. I’m a Catholic, please for the love of God”, but the priest is equally impassive.
Then Hansen manages to turn to look at The Captain, saying, “He’s the Devil incarnate!”
The Captain just calls for one of his men, Graff, who stands over Hansen, and draws a small knife from his hat.
The Captain had already stated that the penalty for rape would be castration, and we are left to imagine what subsequently occurs.
Full plot synopsis as supplied:
Vogel (OMAR SHARIF), once a teacher, is now wandering, begging. He comes upon a beautiful village, untouched by the ravages and the Thirty Years’ War.
A band of ruthless mercenaries led by their captain (Michael Caine) surrounds the village and shortly thereafter Vogel begins a verbal battle for his life and the survival of the village. He convinces the Captain to spare these people and winter there away from the war, to protect the village in return for comfortable lodgings. After the Captain tells his men of the new plan, some of them rebel against it.
Inge Hoffman (MADELINE HINDE), innocent and very beautiful, and Erica (FLORINDA BOLKAN), elegant and fascinating, are returning to the village unaware of the soldiers’ presence. Some of the mercenaries begin to molest Inge, but she is led away by her father (ARTHUR O’CONNELL).
At the Captain’s request to see Gruber (NIGEL DAVENPORT), who is head of the village, Vogel finds him with his family and Father Sebastian (PER OSCARSSON), the village priest, at the shrine. Vogel tells him of the Captain’s bargain, and in spite of objections from the priest, Gruber agrees.
Vogel becomes very ill and is nursed back to health by Inge, Erica and Frau Hoffman (IRENE PRADOR).
The Captain himself wants Erica but she is Gruber’s mistress. Erica becomes his property when he challenges Gruber at dice and wins.
Tensions begin to tighten. Led by Father Sebastian, the villagers and Catholic soldiers are angered when the Captain moves the holy shrine. Vogel cools their tempers.
That evening at the shrine Hansen (MICHAEL GOTHARD) tries to rape Inge, but Vogel saves her. Later, Hansen and his men try unsuccessfully to ambush the Captain. They flee from the village, but Hansen vows to return with more men.
Inge tells Andreas (CHRISTIAN ROBERTS), her childhood sweetheart, that she will not marry him. She is in love with Vogel. The Captain, who falls in love with Erica, suspects her of witchcraft and questions her about her past.
Hansen returns with new recruits. A fierce and bloody skirmish follows. Hansen is trapped and the Captain shoots him. The village is at peace for a short while. Then with news of approaching armies, the Captain prepares for war again and leaves with his men.
Father Sebastian and Gruber, fearful of the situation, go into hiding. Father Sebastian discovers Erica praying to Satan and condemns her to be burned as a witch. A mercenary left behind to protect the village fights with the priest and they fall into the fire to die with Erica.
When the Captain badly wounded, returns to the village, he meets Inge and Vogel in the forest, who warn him of an ambush ordered by Gruber. But he dies, before the attack. Vogel leaves the village alone and the valley is safe once more …
