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A dramatization of the incident in 1972 when Arab terrorists broke into the Olympic compound in Munich and murdered eleven Israeli athletes.A dramatization of the incident in 1972 when Arab terrorists broke into the Olympic compound in Munich and murdered eleven Israeli athletes.A dramatization of the incident in 1972 when Arab terrorists broke into the Olympic compound in Munich and murdered eleven Israeli athletes.
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys
- 3 nominations total
Djamchid 'Jim' Soheili
- Touny
- (as Djamchid Soheili)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAlthough it's not mentioned in this movie, the terrorist also demanded the release of Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, founders of the German Red Army Faction, who were being held in German prisons.
- GoofsThe actress playing Golda Meir speaks English with a very thick German accent. The real Golda Meir grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and spoke English with a standard American accent.
- Quotes
Chief of Police Manfred Schreiber: [Shocked when the terrorists take the helicopter pilots prisoner] What the hell are they doing?
General Zvi Zamir: [Bitterly] They are Arab terrorists. They are breaking their word.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Prefontaine (1997)
- SoundtracksOsse Shalom
By Nurit Hirsch (as Nurit Hirsh)
Featured review
Evil Visits Munich
21 Hours At Munich tells the tragic story of the Black September terrorists who took Israeli athletes hostage at the 1972 Olympics and issued a demand to the government of Israel that a couple of hundred of their comrades be freed for the lives of these athletes. It was a story that gripped the world at the time and is still sadly relevant for today.
This was a new phenomenon at the time, mindless terrorist acts against civilians and governments then and now can't quite come to grips with the concept of pure evil wrapped in a political cause. Black September no doubt picked the target as Munich not only because of the Olympics, but because of the special significance the city has in the rise of Adolph Hitler. Maybe they thought some sympathy from the authorities might linger from Nazi days.
In that they were much mistaken. The West German government was as mortified and embarrassed by the events as anyone else in the civilized world. This was their opportunity to exhibit a post Nazi Germany to the world and it was horrifyingly blown.
William Holden played the head of the Munich PD in charge of dealing with the problem and it's a sincere and level performance he gives. Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany is played by Richard Basehart who is the liberal politician who can't grasp even after Hitler there are some folks that just can't be reasoned with. Other performances of note are Franco Nero as the charismatic Black September leader, a picture of homicidal malevolence just itching to kill and Shirley Knight the negotiator for Holden and the Munich PD.
Stephen Spielberg did a great job in putting this film together which should be required viewing for those finding justice in brutal acts of homicide.
This was a new phenomenon at the time, mindless terrorist acts against civilians and governments then and now can't quite come to grips with the concept of pure evil wrapped in a political cause. Black September no doubt picked the target as Munich not only because of the Olympics, but because of the special significance the city has in the rise of Adolph Hitler. Maybe they thought some sympathy from the authorities might linger from Nazi days.
In that they were much mistaken. The West German government was as mortified and embarrassed by the events as anyone else in the civilized world. This was their opportunity to exhibit a post Nazi Germany to the world and it was horrifyingly blown.
William Holden played the head of the Munich PD in charge of dealing with the problem and it's a sincere and level performance he gives. Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany is played by Richard Basehart who is the liberal politician who can't grasp even after Hitler there are some folks that just can't be reasoned with. Other performances of note are Franco Nero as the charismatic Black September leader, a picture of homicidal malevolence just itching to kill and Shirley Knight the negotiator for Holden and the Munich PD.
Stephen Spielberg did a great job in putting this film together which should be required viewing for those finding justice in brutal acts of homicide.
helpful•54
- bkoganbing
- Apr 7, 2009
Details
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- Also known as
- Twenty-One Hours at Munich
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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