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7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful :-
An excellent Film, 7 November 2003
10/10
Author: Robert W. Anderson (bayareabob@mac.com) from United States

It's now March 15,2006 and I'm adding this remark to my review because of some emails I got asking me to make it known if I find a way to obtain a copy of this film. I have found someone selling this film. I haven't bought one yet, but I plan to. I notice that he says the copy is fair to good. So don't expect wide screen and surrond. But the prices seem resonable, and he even has another one I'm looking for; W.W. and the DIxie Dance Kings. Here is the web address: www.ioffer.com/shops/cinema70. Take your time and make sure you know what your getting. Good Luck This is my second comment on this film. My first comments were brief and some time ago. Since them I notice some quite derisive comments have been left and I wanted to leave a current opinion. The most common negative statement is absurd. Certainly, the story line is fictional, and not that likely to happen. But come on! The fact of the matter is. A symphony orchestra is caught behind the lines of a German advance. And the egos of the two main characters ( the conductor and the German commander) stage their own personal battle. The German commander want a personal performance, the conductor knows they will be killed if he complies. He stalls trying to buy time, and thus save as many lives as possible. This was well acted, and I feel well written. I found myself caring what happened to these people. I wish it was available on DVD.

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6 out of 6 people found the following comment useful :-
Bad reviews, but liked it, 3 September 2004
Author: npiazza1 (npiazza1@san.rr.com) from San Diego, CA, USA

Although this movie got bad reviews and, as another member commented, was "absurd", I enjoyed the movie and am sorry that it has never been released on VHS or DVD. I would sure like to get a copy. One never even sees it on television any more so it could be taped. I guess I'm just a sentimentalist at heart, but the idea of going through the motions of putting on a concert for the Nazis to delay the SS execution of the group appealed to me. And when that soldier (I forget who the actor was), pretending to be a member of the band, played "The Star Spangled Banner", I was brought to tears. If any member knows where I could get a copy of this movie on VHS or DVD, I would appreciate an email.

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
good flick, 10 February 2006
7/10
Author: jeanie-newlife from United States

Counterpoint remains one of my favorite movies mainly because of the interesting interplay between Schell's and Heston's characters. It is good movie making to set up a psychological tug-of-war with life at stake. Schell does an excellent job portraying a conflicted authoritarian who has stumbled upon a small bit of beauty in the midst of chaos. Schell exudes his character's charm and ultimate control over the situation when he comments on the orchestra's performance list - "Something Wagnerian perhaps..." I always have the feeling watching this movie that it would translate very well to the stage. Your eye is never distracted by other things. The premise, though a bit unrealistic, is still compelling enough to make the movie a good watch.

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Unusual Thriller; an Adventure With Characters and Atmosphere, 11 July 2005
7/10
Author: silverscreen888

This is perhaps not a great movie; but as many viewers have attested over the years, it is a very memorable attempt at entertainment. The context of this dramatic film is WWII. People do strange things in wartime, I suggest; but once one accepts the physical presence of a fine orchestra led by a pompous but talented man in harm's way, where he can be coveted, captured and coerced by a civilized Nazi officer and menaced by an SS type, everything else falls into place. The other elements in the plot about an orchestra leader "not playing, for time" to save the lives of his orchestra's members and two US soldiers who have been caught in the same zone with no escape are these: a traitor in the orchestra; a relationship between the leader and a cellist; his relations with her husband, his concertmaster, the SS officer's desire to exterminate them, and the desire of the Nazi captor to have them play something just for him in the midst of wartime--these are unusual attributes for a 'war film, I assert. Those who missed the main point of the film, that the ethics of emergencies are different than those of normative times, thus missed why the movie was made. There are examples, in history such as "Playing For Time": for instance, of musicians and Jewish ones and females being kept alive to play for Nazi officers; the clever part here is that writers James Lee and Joel Oliansky 'fictionalized' the idea by providing interesting additions to the basic situation, which are: the aforementioned affair, the danger that brings out the characters more strongly, the need NOT to play, and the additional element of a traitor in their midst, the two US types and the often-used but effective distinction between civilized Germans serving Hitler's Nazi war'machine' and SS types enjoying their unlimited power to do harm to anyone they single out during that war. The change in the leader's character during the film is that he must remain true to himself and also prioritize what he does for the good of the group, no easy task. And the music is wonderful, the atmosphere so good even naysayers have remarked on it. As to the acting, it is far better than the mumbling and often ludicrous submediocrity that has characterized Hollywood unprofessionalism since 1973. The film was directed by Ralph Nelson. The good cast included Charlton Heston as the monomaniacal maestro, Maximilian Schell and Anton Diffrimf as the German contestants for the lives of the orchestra's members, Leslie Nielse and Kathryn hays as the other members of the love triangle, plus Neva Patterson, Cyril Delevanti, Gregory Morton, Parley Baer, Ed Peck, Peter Masterson, Curt Lowens and many more. Original music for the film was composed by Bronislau Kaper; cinematography was done by Russell Metty. Art direction was done by Carl Anderson and Alexander Golitzen, set decoration by John McCarthy Jr. and George Milo with costumes by Burton Miller The film is well-=aced, the dialogue above average, many scenes well-thought out; and the music alone is worth the price of admission. Anyone who does not enjoy this film and believe in its essential logic is perhaps an opponent of realistic behavior, actions that consist of dealing with the unusual sometimes, and with something other than rock-and-roll level cardboard types characterized by what is wrong with them and not by anything higher. Worth seeing more than once.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
War of wills between 2 Prima Donnas, a conductor and a Nazi General, 1 July 2005
7/10
Author: danfcon from United States

Let me qualify those 7 stars. You have to like Heston, Schell, WWII movies, and classical music in order to appreciate this movie. Heston is the conductor of an orchestra that is caught behind German lines during the Battle of the Bulge. Schell is a Prussian style educated yet cultured officer who is caught between his appreciation for culture and his orders not to delay the battle by wasting time on taking prisoners. The orchestra is USO. A side conflict is provided by the orchestra taking in 2 GIs who are also cut off behind enemy lines and hiding them as members of the orchestra. This is a war, "small w", movie. I remember a lot of grimacing from Heston and Schell, but that is what they do! Look beyond the cardboard characters and you may find a good little picture about a protagonist and an antagonist playing chess without a board.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
an epic war movie, 25 January 2007
7/10
Author: juan carlos from Spain

I make a difference, referring to war movies. There are some that are very faithful to the history such as Midway, Tora, Tora, Tora and there are some that emphasize the epic and heroic aspects of soldier life in terrible circumstances. I have to say that I am more interested in the second ones such as The Dirty Dozen, The Eagle has landed, etc. Counterpoint belongs to the second category. A famous music director (C. Heston) and his orchestra is kidnapped by the Nazy army in Belgium. The German General (M. Schell) wants this orchestra to play for him but the director delays this concert as much as possible to avoid his musicians to be killed. I think Ralphn Nelson felt some empathy for the character, starred by Heston because he was in the Army in the II World War and participated in different plays in Broadway to entertain people in the same way Heston tries to entertain soldiers in the cold Europe. Schell and Heston perform their roles perfectly: they admire each other but war has placed them in different sides of the river. Schell is far from the archetype of the Germans in the Hitler era. There is a love subplot between Heston and one old love, his musician,Kathryn Hays, who is now married with a partner, a serious Leslie Nielsen. This love story and the sequence in which an American soldier is nearly discovered by a German Colonel but he feigns to be a musician of the orchestra, playing the U.S. hymn, remind me of Casablanca. The cinematography of Russel Metty, in which the shadows have a relevant role, is quite brilliant. So, it deserves to be seen.

Juan Carlos del Castillo Álvarez

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Counterpoint - starring Charlton Heston, 13 October 2006
10/10
Author: davidporter224 from United States

I saw this film when it first came out and thought it was excellent, Charlton Heston's best. I don't think the plot was too far-fetched, after all, the Battle of the Bulge DID occur and a USO orchestra could have been caught behind the enemy lines like this one was. Perhaps the German general would not have been quite so brutal, front line troops were not like concentration camp guards, but Charlton Heston HAD discovered important information about the German fuel situation. I too, would like to get a copy of it on VHS or DVD. I actually do have a 16mm film copy of it, 3 reels I think, which I would gladly donate to anyone for a DVD in return!

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Engaging and somewhat memorable to say the least, 13 January 2005
7/10
Author: CountessNatalya from United States

If you're a World War II movie fan or a woman and a Maximillian Schell fan, or both, this hard to find film has definitely captured Maximillian Schell's charm and appeal. Even though he plays a German General, the "bad guy," his performance makes it very difficult NOT to like him. He is handsome and witty underneath the power of authority that he exudes. His performance is by far the best. A hand would have to be given to given to the young "pre-Naked Gun" Leslie Nielsen also. The movie plot is perhaps a little unrealistic but that's the beauty of film, right? Engaging and somewhat memorable to say the least. Worth a look if you can find it.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
Memorable!, 22 December 2001
8/10
Author: Ray209 from Honolulu

The very first movie I looked up when I stumbled on the IMDB was "Counterpoint." For years I had told people about this movie and how much of an impact it had on me, but no one had ever seen it -- some tried to convince me that I had imagined the whole thing! In their defense, it is a rather strange plot. I give this movie a substantial amount of the credit for beginning my appreciation for classical music. Unfortunately, you can only see it by purchasing it (I would presume). If the idea of a WWII/classical music/POW/intensely-driven-conductor movie sounds stupid, it probably isn't worth the price. If it sounds like it's right up your alley -- you shouldn't be disappointed.

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1 out of 1 people found the following comment useful :-
Soundtrack, 3 March 2000
10/10
Author: kid46_1999 from Hanford, CA

I am especially fond of this film.It is not your run of the mill war story. The Wagner,"introduction to Tannhauser",played in one of the music scenes is my favorite classical piece.I also enjoyed the Swan Lake played in the film. Maximillian Schell is very good as the Nazi general.

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