Pretty Good

Lack of good storyline.

Absolutely Fantastic

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

WWII story with a light touch has Hannibal Brooks, a British POW in Germany, volunteering to care for one of the zoo animals left vulnerable by the bombing; he's assigned Lucy, an Asian elephant. After the zoo is destroyed by fire, Brooks, a female cook and two German soldiers are instructed to accompany Lucy across the Swiss border--a journey which will also provide crafty Brooks with the opportunity to escape. Something different from director Michael Winner, known at that time for his 'mod' British dramas (although the colorful stories told about Winner during production show that the filmmaker had not misplaced his bad boy persona). The screenplay by Ian La Frenais and Dick Clement, based on a story by Winner and Tom Wright, has some basis in fact, and yet it's a very patchy film. The cinematography and scoring are lovely, and Oliver Reed as Brooks gives a charmingly unforced performance, but the third act with American escapee Michael J. Pollard helping Reed defeat the Nazis is wearing. Pollard was riding high on the success of "Bonnie and Clyde" two years before, but he's clearly not the star here, nor is Reed. It takes a delightful pachyderm to upstage these wily men, not to mention the entire German army. ** from ****

Oliver Reed gives one of his usually visceral turns in this wartime comedy thriller by - of all people - Michael Winner.A British soldier captured by the Germans; he is put to work at the zoo where he soon develops a bond with Lucy the solitary female elephant. During an air-raid, the zoo is destroyed, and he is tasked with the animal's evacuation supervised by two German soldiers. One is inevitably harsh and mean-spirited, the other bookish and kindly. At a crisis, the kindly one kills the other and is persuaded to help Brooks take the animal to Switzerland. Along the way, they have adventures.At the same time, a German officer played by Wolfgang Preiss, with a venal dislike and sneaking respect for Brooks, endeavours to procure his recapture.Also at the same time, a group of partisans led by fellow escapees (leader played by Pollard) are busily engaged in sundry sabotage.The emphasis is more upon humour than war or tragedy, resembling that other great wartime comedy 'Kelly's Heroes'. But what makes this movie so compelling is the emphasis upon cultural collateral. No other movie (so far as I'm aware) spares a thought for the plight of the other species we lock up in prisons, or the loss of cultural assets. They're almost exclusively centred upon humans and human suffering.Reed, Pollard, Preiss, Lohner et al, each give creditable performances, as indeed does the elephant itself. Filming - quite evidently on location - is expansive with quite wonderful vistas of alpine landscape, allowing personalities to expand alike. I am reminded of the professor picking flowers in the equally vintaged 'Italian Job' - 'Pity people aren't more like flowers.' War-effects are solidly recreated and grim. There are plenty of good humorous moments. Most are predictable, but fun all the same. A pleasant, romantic theme music matches the elephant's languid pace. Those who criticise and down-score this movie because of its almost perfect ending are completely missing the point. It's a feelgood movie set in the war - and what's wrong with that? Would you have the elephant killed for greater authenticity? Maybe deprive Kelly and his heroes of their bullion? Perhaps the Von Trapp family should have been machine-gunned on the threshold of escape. Near miracles do happen in wars; I see no reason why a movie shouldn't depict one.This is a 'complete' work. Everything meshes. It's one of the few genuinely creative efforts from Michael Winner. Although it reflects its age in every way that's no criticism. Let the warmongers and realists soak up the blood and guts of 'Private Ryan's' beach-landing. Those who prefer a little light relief sometimes should enjoy 'Hannibal Brooks' immensely.

A breezy, light-hearted and, dare I say, humorous World War II movie very much reflecting the sensibilities of the late 60's. Oliver Reed is Lance Corporal Brooks, the perfect antihero with very little respect for authority, even when the authority is SS Colonel von Haller played with a certain roguish charm by Wolfgang Preiss. As a captured British soldier, Brooks willingly volunteers to work in the Munich Zoo where he becomes the caretaker for an elephant named Lucy. The zoo is bombed and he is charged with taking Lucy to safety. Thwarted by von Haller in his attempt to get her there by rail, Brooks and his escort (two guards and a female cook) undertake the journey on foot. Circumstances arise that lead to the decision to attempt an escape over the Alps to Switzerland, and because Brooks has grown so attached to her, leaving Lucy behind is not an option. As you can imagine, trying to escape Nazi Germany with an elephant in tow makes for some interesting situations.This is not high art, but the story is good, and there's a nice little twist, too. The cast is universally good and you can tell the actors are having a good time. Joining Reed and Preiss is an elfin Michael J. Pollard as a fellow POW turned goofy guerilla. Peter Carsten and Helmut Lohner are Brooks' German guards and Karin Baal is the cook who, with a very 60's sensibility, explains to Brooks why she made what might not have been such an obvious choice in the 1940's.All in all Hannibal Brooks is a highly entertaining film. If only this movie were on DVD, or even video for that matter.

Well worth watching! Escaping from Germany to Switzerland with an elephant, Hannibal Brooks embarks on an action-packed adventure that will keep your attention, and provide some laughs along the way.