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Night Ambush

Original title: Ill Met by Moonlight
  • 19571957
  • UnratedUnrated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.Led by British officers, partisans on Crete plan to kidnap the island's German commander and smuggle him to Cairo, Egypt to embarrass the occupiers.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Writers
    • W. Stanley Moss(adapted from the book: "Ill Met By Moonlight" The Wartime Diary in Crete of)
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Marius Goring
    • David Oxley
Top credits
  • Directors
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Writers
    • W. Stanley Moss(adapted from the book: "Ill Met By Moonlight" The Wartime Diary in Crete of)
    • Michael Powell
    • Emeric Pressburger
  • Stars
    • Dirk Bogarde
    • Marius Goring
    • David Oxley
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 19User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos27

    Cyril Cusack, David Oxley, and Laurence Payne in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Dirk Bogarde, Marius Goring, and David Oxley in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Dirk Bogarde, Marius Goring, and David Oxley in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Marius Goring in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Dirk Bogarde and Marius Goring in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Michael Gough, Dirk Bogarde, Marius Goring, Wolfe Morris, David Oxley, and Laurence Payne in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)
    Marius Goring in Ill Met by Moonlight (1957)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Dirk Bogarde
    Dirk Bogarde
    • Major Patrick Leigh Fermor D.S.O. O.B.E. also known to the Cretans and the German Secret Police as PHILEDEMas Major Patrick Leigh Fermor D.S.O. O.B.E. also known to the Cretans and the German Secret Police as PHILEDEM
    Marius Goring
    Marius Goring
    • Major General Kreipeas Major General Kreipe
    David Oxley
    David Oxley
    • Captain W. Stanley Moss, M.C.as Captain W. Stanley Moss, M.C.
    Dimitri Andreas
    • Nikoas Niko
    Cyril Cusack
    Cyril Cusack
    • Sandyas Sandy
    Laurence Payne
    Laurence Payne
    • Manolias Manoli
    Wolfe Morris
    Wolfe Morris
    • Georgeas George
    Michael Gough
    Michael Gough
    • Andoni Zoidakisas Andoni Zoidakis
    John Cairney
    John Cairney
    • Eliasas Elias
    Brian Worth
    • Stratis Saviolkisas Stratis Saviolkis
    Roland Bartrop
    • Micky Akoumianakisas Micky Akoumianakis
    • (as Rowland Bartrop)
    George Eugeniou
    • Charis Zographakisas Charis Zographakis
    Paul Stassino
    Paul Stassino
    • Yani Katsiasas Yani Katsias
    Adeeb Assaly
    • Zaharias Zahari
    Theo Moreas
    • Village Priestas Village Priest
    Takis Frangofinos
    • Michalias Michali
    Christopher Lee
    Christopher Lee
    • German officer at dentist'as German officer at dentist'
    Peter Augustine
    • Dentistas Dentist
    • Directors
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Writers
      • W. Stanley Moss(adapted from the book: "Ill Met By Moonlight" The Wartime Diary in Crete of)
      • Michael Powell
      • Emeric Pressburger
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Michael Powell's book, "Million Dollar Movie", Composer Mikis Theodorakis considered it shameful that a story about Cretan resistance fighters would be told by anyone other than Cretans. He told Writers, Producers, and Directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger that they were both political "interlopers", a label he also used in describing Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor.
    • Goofs
      General Brauer is shown in the film as wearing army (Wehrmacht) uniform. As a paratrooper, he should be wearing air force (Luftwaffe) uniform. Contemporary photographs show him doing so on Crete.
    • Quotes

      Maj. Patrick Leigh Fermor aka Philedem: Field Marshal Rommel won't be in Cairo but you will be!

    • Alternate versions
      The UK version of the film, titled "Ill Met by Moonlight", is 11 minutes longer than the version originally released in American markets.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The South Bank Show: Michael Powell (1986)

    User reviews19

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    interesting WW II spy intrigue from U.K.
    Filmed ten years AFTER the end of the second world war, Night Ambush (ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT to the rest of the world) is a story of British operatives in Crete, reporting home on the activities of the Germans. Their plan is to grab a German officer and take him away. The only name I recognized here is British actor Dirk Bogarde, who plays Major Patrick Fermor. In this story, David Oxley plays Captain I.W. Stanley Moss; Moss is also the original author of his own true account of this WWII story, according to Wikipedia. Part of the story is kind of a jolly old adventure, with dancing and singing, which was a little odd for spies keeping a low profile. Take note of the German officer who barges in at the dentist's office to inspect everyone's papers; Christopher Lee (would have been about 30) has played many roles, frequently the villain in Star Wars, Man with the Golden Gun, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and even Sherlock Holmes. Interesting career,he has worked with many of the greats. As others have mentioned, incredible outdoor photography, which seems to be the Italian Alps. Quite good quality sound and photography by the Rank Organisation, for the 1950s. Screenplay and direction by Powell and Pressburger, who had made 25 films together. Good way to spend 104 minutes (although IMDb shows "US version 93 mins", Turner Classics DID show the 104 min version ....there were a couple off- color remarks, but certainly not 10 minutes worth.) Doesn't seem to have won any awards, but interesting spy story from WW II.
    helpful•6
    3
    • ksf-2
    • Jun 10, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1958 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Greek
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Noćna zaseda
    • Filming locations
      • Alpes Maritimes, Alps, Italy
    • Production companies
      • The Rank Organisation
      • Vega Film Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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