21 HOURS AT MUNICH (21 HORAS EN MUNICH) TV MOVIE

(director: William Graham; screenwriters: Howard Fast/Edward C. Hume/from the book by Serge Groussard; cinematographer: JostVacano; editor: Ronald J. Fagan; music: Laurence Rosenthal; cast: Franco Nero (Issa), William Holden (Chief of Police, Manfred Schreiber), Shirley Knight (Anneliese Graes), Richard Basehart (Willy Brandt), Anthony Quayle (General Zvi Zamir), Georg Marischka (Genscher), Noel Willman (Bruno Merk), Paul Smith (Gutfreund), Else Quecke (Golda Meir); Runtime: 100; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Frank Von Zerneck/Robert Greenwald; MGM; 1976)

“Relates in a straight-forward and dry methodical way to the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Long-time TV director William Graham (“Where the Lillies Bloom”/”Cry for Me, Billy“/”Together Brothers”) directs this historical TV movie. It’s based on the book by Serge Groussard, and is written by Howard Fast and Edward C. Hume.

It relates in a straight-forward and dry methodical way to the tragedy at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Palestinian terrorists took 11 Israeli athletes and coaches hostage and demanded the release of over 200 political prisoners.

Franco Nero plays the leader of the brutal terrorist group called “Black September.” William Holden stiffly plays the Munich Chief of Police. Since it’s widely known what is coming, tension never builds.

It uses archive footage from the actual games to give it a look of authenticity. The film focuses solely on a recreation on the day in question, and raises no other points.

REVIEWED ON 2/9/2016 GRADE: B- 

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