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IMDbPro

The Last Valley

  • 19711971
  • PGPG
  • 2h 8m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,675
293
The Last Valley (1971)
During the Thirty Years' War of 1600s, a band of Protestant mercenaries peacefully coexist with German Catholic villagers in a hidden idyllic mountain valley untouched by war.
Play trailer2:25
1 Video
46 Photos
AdventureDramaWar
During the Thirty Years' War of 1600s, a band of Protestant mercenaries peacefully coexist with German Catholic villagers in a hidden idyllic mountain valley untouched by war.During the Thirty Years' War of 1600s, a band of Protestant mercenaries peacefully coexist with German Catholic villagers in a hidden idyllic mountain valley untouched by war.During the Thirty Years' War of 1600s, a band of Protestant mercenaries peacefully coexist with German Catholic villagers in a hidden idyllic mountain valley untouched by war.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
22,675
293
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • James Clavell
    • Writers
      • James Clavell
      • J.B. Pick(novel)
    • Stars
      • Michael Caine
      • Omar Sharif
      • Florinda Bolkan
    Top credits
    • Director
      • James Clavell
    • Writers
      • James Clavell
      • J.B. Pick(novel)
    • Stars
      • Michael Caine
      • Omar Sharif
      • Florinda Bolkan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 80User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Trailer

    Photos46

    "The Last Valley" Michael Caine 1970 ABC Pictures
    "The Last Valley" Michael Caine, Florinda Bolkan 1970 ABC Pictures
    "The Last Valley" Michael Caine 1970 ABC Pictures
    "Last Valley, The" Michael Caine 1970 / Todd-Ao
    "Last Valley, The" Omar Sharif 1970 / Todd-Ao
    The Last Valley (1971)
    Michael Caine in The Last Valley (1971)
    Michael Caine, Omar Sharif, and Madeleine Hinde in The Last Valley (1971)
    Michael Caine in The Last Valley (1971)
    Michael Caine in The Last Valley (1971)
    Michael Caine in The Last Valley (1971)
    Christian Roberts in The Last Valley (1971)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • The Captain
    Omar Sharif
    Omar Sharif
    • Vogel
    Florinda Bolkan
    Florinda Bolkan
    • Erica
    Nigel Davenport
    Nigel Davenport
    • Gruber
    Per Oscarsson
    Per Oscarsson
    • Father Sebastian
    Arthur O'Connell
    Arthur O'Connell
    • Hoffman
    Madeleine Hinde
    • Inge
    • (as Madeline Hinde)
    Yorgo Voyagis
    • Pirelli
    Miguel Alejandro
    • Julio
    Christian Roberts
    Christian Roberts
    • Andreas
    Brian Blessed
    Brian Blessed
    • Korski
    Ian Hogg
    Ian Hogg
    • Graf
    Michael Gothard
    Michael Gothard
    • Hansen
    George Innes
    George Innes
    • Vornez
    Ralph Arliss
    Ralph Arliss
    • Claus
    Claudia Butenuth
    Claudia Butenuth
    • Helga
    Paul Challen
    • Zollner
    Christopher Chittell
    Christopher Chittell
    • Svenson
    • (as Chris Chittell)
    • Director
      • James Clavell
    • Writers
      • James Clavell
      • J.B. Pick(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Perhaps the most praised element of the production was the score by John Barry, then most famous for his "James Bond" scores. In the new millennium, it was still regarded as one of his best scores. In a project to prepare a special CD release of the soundtrack, it was discovered that the complete original session recordings were either lost or destroyed.
    • Goofs
      The long shot of the die shows them close to each other, with the cup some distance away casting a small shadow; in the close shot, the die are separated and the shadow of the cup is longer and falls between the die.
    • Quotes

      The Captain: There is no Hell. Don't you understand? Because there is no God. There never was. Don't you understand? There is no God! It's a legend!

    • Connections
      Featured in The World According to Smith & Jones: The Tudors (1987)

    User reviews80

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Whoa!
    I was at the store and spied this unknown 1971 flick amongst the DVDs; it looked like my kind of movie, especially with Michael Caine and Omar Sharif, so I naturally wondered why I had never heard of it. I made a mental note to check out some reviews on the internet. The across-the-board high ratings piqued my interest, so I decided to pick it up the next time I saw it.

    The first thing that made a favorable impression was the outstanding opening credits sequence. Many reviewers mention John Barry's magnificent score as a highlight and they're right. This credits sequence innovatingly depicts the theme of the Thirty Years War -- members of essentially the same religion at each other's throats.

    THE STORY: During the horrible Thirty Years War in Europe (1618-1648) a band of mercenaries led by the merciless Michael Caine ("The Captain") and a drifter attempting to flee the horrors of the war discover a hidden vale -- the last valley untouched by the war. The drifter talks The Captain into wintering in the peaceful valley rather than pillaging it and raping/killing the villagers. (This setup itself is a hint that this is no ordinary war flick).

    WHAT WORKS: Parts of the film have a dreamy, surreal atmosphere, particularly the beginning and ending; this is reminiscent of the incomparable "Apocalypse Now." Michael Caine is outstanding as The Captain, a character so hardened by the horrors of war that he no longer even has a name, he's just "The Captain." Caine would perform a similar role in the underrated "The Eagle Has Landed" in 1977, a stunning performance. The Captain's answer to everything was to simply kill, but now, in the valley, he has found peace and the warmth of love. Omar Sharif also perfectly depicts the disillusioned drifter, Vogel, his reaction to the horrors of war has always been to run, but in the valley he also finds peace and love, and even -- maybe -- a family? The depth and ultra-seriousness of the story, including the dialogue of the characters touching on issues of war, loss, God, religion, ignorance, superstitions, love, hope, loyalty, duty, redemption, etc. truly separate this pic from an ordinary war-adventure yarn.

    It's also very interesting to observe how people lived in a regular hamlet 400 years ago in backwoods Europe. It was not unusual for people back then in such circumstances to live their entire lives within 10 miles or so from where they were born. Such people would likely be under-educated, superstitious, innocent, ignorant and narrow-minded all at the same time, and the film realistically portrays this.

    WHAT DOESN'T WORK: There are parts of the film that aren't pulled off very well. Some of the dramatic stagings and dialogue come off awkward here and there. These aspects perhaps needed more fine-tuning and this explains why critics originally panned the movie and why it fell into obscurity for thirty years (a fitting curse for being the only movie to ever address the Thirty Years War, eh?).

    Some have criticized the film for being anti-church or even anti-God. Actually the film's about the pursuit of God, truth, love and happiness in the face of the ultimate horror -- war. And not just any war, a war that lasted three decades wherein innocent civilians -- men, women, children & family members -- were needlessly slaughtered. The repugnance and terror of war caused The Captain to become a ruthless atheist, as he declares in one potent scene, and "tore the heart out of" Vogel, as revealed in another. But the last valley untouched by the neverending conflict has given them both hope again.

    ***SPOILER ALERT***

    Originally The Captain was going to slay Vogel as soon as he met him, but after wintering in the valley he sets Vogel up as the leader while he leaves to attend to the business of war. He obviously had a change of heart concerning Vogel. In any event, he returns to the vale, wounded, his only sanctuary from the evils of battle and plague. His dying words to Vogel are: "Vogel, if you find God tell him we created..." He was no longer an atheist in the strictest sense; he now even hoped their was a Creator and WANTED Vogel to find truth, love & happiness. But it was too late for him. Or maybe not?

    ***END SPOILER***

    FINAL ANALYSIS: Despite the obvious flaws the film gets a huge 'A' for effort in my book. "The Last Valley" is a special picture. It successfully creates a small world of people some 400 years ago in a secluded vale in the paradisical wilderness of the Alps. A world you can get lost in for 2 hours. The originality of the story and its inherent profundities, not to mention the fine cast, performances and surreal aspects, lift the film above a simple adventure yarn. It's unorthodox, enlightening, thought-provoking and ultimately moving. If you enjoy films like "Apocalypse Now" and "Runaway Train," films that boldly attempt to go far deeper than the run-of-the-mill action/adventure flick, then be sure to check out "The Last Valley." You won't be disappointed. In addition, it's a film you'll continue to glean from in future viewings. But, since this is a dialogue-driven picture, be sure to use the subtitles so you can understand the heavily accented dialogue. You'll get much more out of it.

    GRADE: A-
    helpful•22
    1
    • Wuchakk
    • Jan 8, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 1971 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • James Clavell's The Last Valley
    • Filming locations
      • Trins, Tirol, Austria
    • Production companies
      • ABC Pictures
      • Seamaster Films
      • Season
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $11,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 8 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.20 : 1

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