21 Hours at Munich (1976 TV Movie) User Reviews

Wordy, but believable

[unbrokenmetal · 7/10 · 14 April 2006]

A semi-documentary movie about the terrorist attack on the Israeli team at the Olympic Games at Munich 1972.

In opposite to later adaptations of the same historical event, "21 Hours at Munich" was shot on the original locations. However, it is a little bit less of a documentary than it seems at first, it does take a bit of creative freedom in the narration. Which has been criticized by some reviewers, but makes it a better movie after all. Excellent performances by William Holden as the police chief and Franco Nero as the terrorist leader, whose motivation is explained remarkably well. He is not just the one-dimensional Hollywood villain firing bullets in all directions. That was important to make the film believable, as well as the discussions between the politicians. Even it makes the movie quite wordy, the reasons why and when and how the police fights the terrorists are explained well. "21 Hours at Munich" is a movie you should watch, first for the tragic history that hopefully will never be repeated, second for its solid story telling and acting which is above the genre average.

Too Little, Too Late.

[rmax304823 · 7/10 · 12 May 2007]

Five members of Black September take a dozen or so Israeli athletes hostage at the Munich Olympics in 1972, killing two others. Led by Franco Nero, they demand the release of more than two hundred Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel refuses to agree and the German authorities (William Holden as Schreiber, Chief of the Munich Police; Shirley Knight as head of Women's Olympic Security; Richard Basehart as Willie Brandt) are stuck with the nasty task of trying to resolve the problem themselves. They botch the job. There is a shootout at the airport and all the hostages are killed, along with some of the terrorists. The surviving killers are released from jail later, when other terrorists hijack an airliner and hold seventeen passengers hostage.

This is a linear narrative. It illustrates the sorts of glitches that authorities run into when faced with an unanticipated problem. Unanticipated -- Hell, inconceivable. No one could any more imagine hostages being taken at the 1972 Olympics than he could imagine the simultaneous hijacking of four American airliners by terrorists intent on flying them into buildings.

The first German to talk to the terrorists, played by Shirley Knight, walked up to the captors and angrily demanded to know, "What IS this rubbish?" (The encounter is shown a little differently in the film.) Until the dimensions of the situation were clarified -- the dead bodies, the impossible demands -- it was treated as a breach of etiquette. No one in a position of power had any idea of the correct course. Nothing like this had ever happened before.

Happily the film shows all the points of view, without slipping into pathos. It doesn't have to be sentimentalized. A mature audience must already be aware of the emotions involved. Yet the documentary approach robs the film of some of its dramatic impact. It isn't helped by the acting. The performances are, with a few exceptions, below the expectable par. Richard Basehart, whose work I've admired elsewhere, has the élan of an animatronic figure in Disneyland.

Still it's good to see the events laid out evenly and schematically. Anthony Quayle is on the spot as an Israeli security adviser. And several Moslems, including an Egyptian and a representative of the Arab League, are brought in to try talking the terrorists out of their plan. The simpler, and more devious approach is to treat the Israelis as humans, demonize the murderers, and show the rest of the world as indifferent, with the Germans perhaps even complicit.

This is more or less what "One Day in Munich" does. Spielberg's "Munich" is slanted in the same direction, although it's in most ways a film for adults. Spielberg deletes the accidental killing of an innocent Arab waiter in Lillihammer, Norway, and doesn't mention the death and wounding of several German police officers at the climactic shootout. In a way, Spielberg's movie is an apologia for Mossad, as "The Godfather" was an apologia for the Mafia. (I'm comparing the structure of the movies, not the organizations.) The annoying little things are left out.

And one can't help wondering about that "no negotiating for hostages" axiom either. Why not? If they give in, every Israeli everywhere will become a target? Well, a rat in a Skinner box will certainly repeat activities for which he's rewarded, and he'll avoid those for which he's punished. Some of the rules obviously apply to humans as well. (The slot machines in Vegas put the player on a fractional reenforcement schedule designed to maximize the response -- feeding the machine coins -- while minimizing the payoff.) But in a complex conundrum like this? The Arabs take hostages at Munich and lose. Later, they take hostages on an airliner and win. Punishment in one case, reward in the other. Did the difference in outcome lead to differences in later behavior? Nobody knows. A few focus groups would help, if you can get terrorists to agree to participate in them.

The script presents some interesting ideas. Shirley Knight and Franco Nero have gotten to know one another a bit towards the end. By this time it's clear that Israel will not negotiate and Nero's plan is shot. Knight tells him, reasonably and not ungently, that the entire world is watching to see what he will do next. Wouldn't it be a good idea, she insinuates, if Nero showed the world the more favorable profile of his movement and released the remaining hostages and put an end to the killing? From her lips to the skies. "What?", Nero bristles, "and have people think I am a coward?" And Knight replies, "So these people must die for your vanity?" It's a provocative question -- how many innocent people must die to preserve one man's self image? If the movie doesn't exactly reach out and grab you by the lapels and shake you back and forth, I'm still glad it was made.

A Television Movie That Fills In The Blanks

[atlasmb · 6/10 · 17 September 2017]

Released only one Olympic cycle after the actual events occurred during the 1972 Olympics, this film documents many of the behind-the-scenes events that happened while the world watched the horrible drama unfold. As a big fan of the Olympics, I was watching as news stories interrupted the peaceful competition to explain the unthinkable had happened.

Terrorists had invaded the Olympic compound--the ultimate symbol of peaceful coexistence--and killed Israeli athletes, taking others hostage as leverage to demand the release of comrades held in captivity. As a viewer, I vividly remember the shadowy image of a man on a balcony, a man who threatened the Olympic principles and the world at large, but somehow, though he was visible, was beyond the reach of retaliation. It was frustrating and tragic, but hostages' lives were in the balance.

This film was no doubt an attempt to fill in the blanks for many people who only saw those shadowy images from a distance. But is it more than a documentation? Is it a warning to the world or to those who would use terrorism for their political purposes? Or a tribute, perhaps, to those who did their best to tragic events that unfolded or those who were the victims of those who promote the initiation of violence (even against civilians) as a means to an end?

The narrative seems to bear few embellishments to the actual events of 1972. Hostage situations--with all of the accompanying negotiations and strategizing--are dramatic enough. William Holden, as chief of police, adequately portrays a man who will forever second guess his decisions. The leader of the terrorists (Franco Nero), becomes more than a shadowy figure as the film shows moments when his humanity is revealed. Presented with the option to walk away from further bloodshed, he says, "And have people think I am a coward?" When I first heard this line in 1976, I thought it referred to the world at large, but now I wonder if he was thinking about others who sympathized with his world view.

Tragedy at the 72 Olympics

[jdeitz · 6/10 · 24 August 2001]

Very well done film about the murders of the Israeli Olympic team members by terrorists. Gripping, heartbreaking, and a good job done by Bill Holden as the police inspector. Everyone involved does a stellar job. A great time capsule of the terrible 70's. See it!

True Story Is Well Told

[DKosty123 · 7/10 · 13 December 2008]

This film has the look of a theater film instead of a made for television film. Overall it is very satisfying. William Holden does a very good job portraying the West German Police Captain in charge. The supporting members around him are very good as well.

The Black September kidnapping attempt of part of the Isreali Olympic team at the 1972 Munich Olympic games is not just a tragedy, but cast a bit of a shadow on the Olympics first visit to Germany since the 1936 Nazi affair. Unfortunately, terrorism seems to have gotten even worse than this incident, but this film tells the story very well about 1972 terrorism.

I watched this on an HD broadcast and am very impressed with the quality of the film picture in HD for this 1976 production. The film feels quite authentic, and looks quite so being done only 4 years after the actual events. The Director of this film has over 130 TV & Movie credits in his career and his work here is as good as any on his resume.

"Arabs! With guns!" Really?

[quitwastingmytime · 7/10 · 22 June 2021]

The film is unintentionally revealing and makes the athlete victims far less sympathetic when they shout "Arabs! With guns!" and "Arabs! Terrorists!" at the start. Their bigotry shows. Arab was scarier to them than guns or terrorists.

Some reviews and the description calls them "Arab terrorists." Some of them were German communists, the Red Army Faction, including the Franco Nero character. The RAF and the Arab nationalist Black September were allies, often aiding each other in terrorist attacks in each others countries.

The film has a strong documentary feel and does its best to show events accurately, minute by minute, with admirable detail. All the actors did well. Nero has a good German accent, but Holden wisely didn't try for one. It was still believable. Many German speak English with no accent.

Well worth seeing, and historically accurate, esp so soon after the attack.

Adequate and interesting recreation of the infamous 1972 massacre into the Olympic compound at Munich

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 20 January 2021]

Made-for-TV treatment of the slaughter of the Israeli sportsmen by Arab terrorists , being based on real events about one of the most violent episodes in the history of terrorism. It happened at 4:09 am on September 5, 1972 , as eleven Olympic athletes were taken hostages by terrorists. For the next 21 hours the World held its breath.. Israeli goverment presided by Golda Meier follows its policy of no negotiation with terrorists. As some German authorities : William Holden , Shirley Knight , Noel Willman have to negotiate with the Palestinian , but things go wrong .

Nice and well-made reenacting of the infamous attack on Israeli athletes and coaches in the Olympic village is competently chronicled with good actors , adequate period detail and in semi-documentary style , as well as adding some stock footage . The movie was produced using the actual Munich location. Main and support cast are pretty good . As William Holden gives a sober and serious acting , adequate Shirley Knight , an appropiate Richard Basehart as Chancellor Willy Brandt , Noel Willman as Interior Minister , Paul Smith an Israeli hunk coach being kidnapped and Anthony Quayle as General Zamir . Special mention for Franco Nero who steals the spectacle as an extremely nasty terrorist who really shows a deep hateful against Jews . The motion picture was compellingly professionally directed by William A Graham (Amazing Howard Hughes , Birds of Prey , Change of habit , Deadly encounter, Doomsday Fight , Harry Tracy, Mr Inside Mr Outside, Waterhole) . Rating 7/10 , above average . Worthwhile watching .

Good Film

[Michael_Elliott · 28 February 2008]

21 Hours at Munich (1976)

*** (out of 4)

Pretty good made for TV movie about the 1972 Olympics in Munich, Germany where Arab terrorists kidnapped and murdered eleven Israeli athletes. I don't know the entire history of the events surrounding this attack but if this film stays true to what really happened then I can't help but blame the German government and their security at the Olympics. I really couldn't believe how stupid some of the decisions made where and I really wonder what this event would do in today's world where God knows there's a lot more media. As for the film itself, it's entertaining throughout but it never gets too dramatic and the direction lacks any real style or flair. William Holden gives a good performance as the head Munich guy trying to get everything done while Franco Nero steals the show as the head terrorist. Nero is downright brilliant in his part with a look that could kill. I liked how Nero played the part of a thinking man and this really comes across well.

Excellent telling of a true story

[The_Void · 7/10 · 9 September 2008]

Steven Spielberg made a version of this true story in 2005 in an attempt to win the Best Picture award; yet in spite of his big budget and top quality actors, he couldn't top this little TV movie from 1976! 21 Hours at Munich may not be a great film, but it's an interesting and successful telling of the events of the 1972 Olympic Games, and despite the fact that it is lacking in a few areas; it does at least get its point across. I have to admit that I'm not too familiar with this story outside of the film versions, so I'm not sure exactly how accurate this retelling of it is. The film focuses on a terrorist plot by a group of Arabs (from the Black September organisation) to free some of their countrymen from prison. They kidnap eleven Israeli athletes and refuse to let them go until their demands are met. They are not interested in money; they just want their countrymen freed from jail. This leads the authorities to work hard to strike a deal with the terrorists in order to get the hostages out alive.

It has to be said that the film is not exactly heavy on the action front and much of the plot is taken up by talking, but this is OK because the script is interesting enough for the film not to grind to a halt because of it. The fact that this is a TV movie probably doesn't help as it has obvious restrictions on the budget and exactly what can be shown. The acting is well above par for a TV movie too, and the film features an excellent performance from the great Franco Nero who stars as the head of the terrorist organisation. He gets the performance spot on and hits all the right notes as a terrorist with an obvious human streak. William Holden is his co-star and also gives a first rate performance also. The plot flows well throughout and the film keeps up a steady pace with enough things going on to keep the proceedings interesting. Anyone who knows how this story went down will know what to expect from the ending; but it's a good conclusion and overall, this is a very good movie; much more involving than Spielberg's version of it, and I highly recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

Evil Visits Munich

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 7 April 2009]

21 Hours At Munich tells the tragic story of the Black September terrorists who took Israeli athletes hostage at the 1972 Olympics and issued a demand to the government of Israel that a couple of hundred of their comrades be freed for the lives of these athletes. It was a story that gripped the world at the time and is still sadly relevant for today.

This was a new phenomenon at the time, mindless terrorist acts against civilians and governments then and now can't quite come to grips with the concept of pure evil wrapped in a political cause. Black September no doubt picked the target as Munich not only because of the Olympics, but because of the special significance the city has in the rise of Adolph Hitler. Maybe they thought some sympathy from the authorities might linger from Nazi days.

In that they were much mistaken. The West German government was as mortified and embarrassed by the events as anyone else in the civilized world. This was their opportunity to exhibit a post Nazi Germany to the world and it was horrifyingly blown.

William Holden played the head of the Munich PD in charge of dealing with the problem and it's a sincere and level performance he gives. Chancellor Willy Brandt of West Germany is played by Richard Basehart who is the liberal politician who can't grasp even after Hitler there are some folks that just can't be reasoned with. Other performances of note are Franco Nero as the charismatic Black September leader, a picture of homicidal malevolence just itching to kill and Shirley Knight the negotiator for Holden and the Munich PD.

Stephen Spielberg did a great job in putting this film together which should be required viewing for those finding justice in brutal acts of homicide.

A cold vision of a human tragedy

[gazineo-1 · 5/10 · 29 July 2002]

Accurate but cold vision of the frightful events that took place in Munich in 1972 when the Israeli delegation of athletes is kidnapped by a bunch of Arab terrorists.The movie tries to be a faithful documentary of this political disaster but although his serious and impartial view - a good point - the outcome is just a cold and not gripping retelling.

I give this a 5 (five).

A movie not to be missed

[blambert-4 · 10/10 · 5 September 2005]

I was 16 when the Israeli massacre occurred in Munich 33 yrs ago today and this made for TV film is an excellent feature about those events. Made in 76' the film holds up very well. The film does not "hollywoodize" the events in Munich in any way. It tells the story about what happened in 72' in a very straightforward manner. William Holden, nearing the end of his career, is surprisingly good as the Police Chief of Munich. Franco Nero at first seems like a stretch to play an Arab terrorist but he is very good in this picture. The film also shows how the other Olympic activities kept going on while the hostage crises unfolded which now seems impossible to imagine. The bravery of the Israeli athletes, the confusion and ineptitude of the German police, the dbl-speak of the politicians, nothing is overlooked in this movie. If this movie was based on fictional events it would be a very fine film. The fact that the tragic events depicted actually occurred, and that the film so honorably and sensitively captures what happened in Munich means this film is worthy of the highest praise in my view.

The terror olympics

[ssimon55 · 7/10 · 5 April 2009]

The film does a good job of depicting the terrorist attack on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. Unlike "Munich" which only spends a few minutes dramatizing the terror attacks & spends the rest of the film on Mossad actions tracking down the terrorists, this film shows the horror of the terror attack.

A much better film on the subject is the documentary "One Day in September" (1999) which won an Oscar for best documentary. The film does a good job of showing the ineptitude of German police forces & the intransigence of the IOC, which would not suspend the games for even one day while the terrorists murdered athletes & held others hostage.

Not The Real Story

[HadiAriyan07 · 4/10 · 4 October 2020]

The movie is not accurate to the real events because the leak documents was in 1981, so the movie is based on what is known about the event but not the real story. The movie is a TV low budget so the music and cinematography were nothing to remember. The cast were not that good beside a few actors who were some what trying.

Germany's Olympics go bad again

[lee_eisenberg · 6/10 · 18 August 2018]

The murder of Israel's Olympic team by a Palestinian group at the 1972 games got addressed in Steven Spielberg's "Munich", which focused on Mossad's efforts to find the perpetrators, and an agent's misgivings about his mission. The actual hijacking is the subject of William Graham's "21 Hours at Munich". The movie does manage to find a balance between showing the kidnappers' brutality and addressing the issues that they wanted to bring to the world's attention (namely the Palestinians' expulsion from their land). It was particularly ironic that the kidnapping happened since Germany wanted to atone for its past by ensuring that the Jews would be safe this time.

Admittedly, the movie takes such a neutral approach that it comes across as flat. But it at least addresses the issues. The cast includes William Holden, Franco Nero* (the original Django, and also Vanessa Redgrave's husband), and Paul Smith (the guard in "Midnight Express").

*He and Redgrave met during the production of "Camelot", which I recently saw. Redgrave has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause, and called attention to their plight while accepting her Oscar for "Julia". Her and Franco Nero's son Carlo directed her in a TV adaptation of Wallace Shawn's politically charged play "The Fever", co-starring Michael Moore and Angelina Jolie. Nero appeared in "Django Unchained" as the guest who knows that the D is silent.

The Holocaust continues

[lastliberal · 6/10 · 16 October 2007]

I have no particular affinity for the Isralies. I just happen to believe that genocide is evil, no matter who the victims are. Wheteher is be Israeli, Darfur, or Sunni Muslims in Iraq, it is evil.

This film did a credible job of showing this evil by giving us another picture of what happened in Munich in 1972. It should be seen by all to know how morally bankrupt those people are that practice genocide.

William Holden gave a great performance in one of his last films as the police chief. Franco Nero (Camelot, The Virgin and the Gypsy) was equally good as the terrorist leader.

Check this out when is shows on cable.

1972

[safenoe · 7/10 · 10 April 2024]

Else Quecke, a German actress plays Prime Minister Golda Meir in this first dramatization of the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics, events that would certainly and dramatically change the trajectory of events that really live on to this day and then some. How does 12 Hours at Munich compare with Steven Spielberg's Munich (which starred Australian comedian Eric Bana), well 12 Hours at Munich had William Holden and Franco Nero for one thing, and it was more focused on the tragic even itself. Anyway, 21 Hours at Munich was released nearly 50 years ago, and the ramifications live on to this day.

Terror games, 1972

[videorama-759-859391 · 8/10 · 8 December 2017]

Now, every time we see a terror related movie, we are currently reminded of the world we live in today. When watching this, considering this actually happened, makes it that more frightening. This is a tight solid well made doco drama, concerning the tragic events of the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, where a group of terrorists took an Israeli group of game's participants, hostage, in a desperate attempt, to release their fellow comrades in jail, where demands were met, and negotiations were played out, rather carefully, tightly, led by a Munich detective in charge (Holden, one of many splendid performances here) who doesn't take to blackmailing lightly. Leading the terrorist group, is the always brilliant and flawless Franco Nero, who in my opinion, is one of the greatest actors in history. Brought in to kind of lighten and mellow the situation, and play an emphasizing ear is a woman, a government official or someone (Knight- Endless Love) where she kind of forms a matey bond with Nero. When explaining his situation, you want to feel for Nero's character, as he's a much more humane terrorist, and normally not the monsters, these people are made out to be, though I don't know how much he and the real person depicted, varied, but I really don't think there wouldn't of been that much variation. Beefy Paul Smith (a Bud Spencer look alike), as one of the hostages, shows another lighter side to the bad guys he usually plays, which kind of put a spring in my step. Although this movie's falls short of the whole story which was depicted in that much longer film, Munich, this again is a solid and well made dramatization of those events, an engrossing watch, and at a couple of points, frightening, steered by great acting, particularly that of Knight and Nero.

Horror At Munich

[virek213 · 9/10 · 10 August 2016]

The nightmarish specter of terrorism on an international level can be said to have its origins in what occurred during September 4th and 5th, 1972 at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, West Germany. For twenty-one hours, the world, having been transfixed by how much the standing of the German nation had improved during these Games from what had been done in Berlin in 1936 under the shadow of Hitler, was horrified by how eight heavily armed gunmen belonging to the Black September terrorist organization had managed to storm the Olympic Village and hold nine Israeli athletes hostage (having already killed two of them). The terrorists' demands, which of course Israel wasn't about to comply with, were the release of two hundred militants from various factions being held in German prisons, or the Israelis would be killed. It all ended in the most horrific way possible at nearby Furstenfeldbruck airport early on the morning of September 5th.

The 1976 made-for-TV film 21 HOURS AT MUNICH was really the first dramatic attempt to place these horrific events into context; and given that, when it aired on November 7, 1976, the events were still relatively fresh, it had to have been more than a little painful to watch. That said, this still holds up as a thoroughly well made film about the first act of internationally televised political terrorism. Incredibly filmed on location in Munich itself, the film stars William Holden as Manfred Schreiber, the chief of police in Munich who has to deal with this incredible crisis for which West Germany was woefully unprepared for (deliberately lax security, owing to a desire not to make the Olympic Village seem like a modern-day concentration camp, allowed the terrorists to slip through), with Franco Nero portraying the Black September leader who identifies himself as "Issa". In the main, the approach taken by this movie towards the incident is one resembling a chess game, with nine Jewish pawns in the middle of it all. And when Holden is forced to make the decision to end this thing at Furstenfeldbruck, he is under the assumption that Nero has only four compatriots with him, when in reality it was eight. And with untrained snipers not being told how to coordinate with one another as to the targets, the nightmare that ensues is all but preordained.

While it might have been exceptionally tempting for this TV movie, which was scripted by Edward Hume (TWO MINUTE WARNING) and Howard Fast (the author of the source material for Stanley Kubrick's 1960 epic SPARTACUS) from the book of the same name by Serge Groussard, to turn the events into melodramatic fodder, veteran TV and feature film director William A. Graham holds off on that, instead allowing this to become more of a psychological drama in which the entire world was watching. Although much more of the Munich tragedy, including the well-meaning ineptitude of the Bavarian and West German officials and the arrogance of the International Olympic Committee in not halting the games until some eleven hours into the crisis, was shown in the later Oscar-winning 1999 documentary ONE DAY IN September, 21 HOURS AT MUNICH still manages to let a fair amount of that in itself. Holden and Nero are very well matched; and the film also co-stars Shirley Knight, Anthony Quayle, and Richard Basehart (who portrays West German chancellor Willie Brandt).

The events of Munich have colored not only the Olympics, both winter and summer, in political and social turmoil of some kind ever since, but a great many sports events around the world, including our Super Bowl and the World Cup. 21 HOURS AT MUNICH, like the later ONE DAY IN September and Steven Spielberg's own 2005 film MUNICH (which looks at Israel's response to the horror), gives us as insightful a glimpse into why this is so as any dramatic presentation could ever hope to accomplish.

Truly compelling portrait of one of the darkest pages in our world's recent history

[Coventry · 8/10 · 2 July 2010]

I've vaguely picked up a thing or two about the infamous so-called "Munich Massacre" in school and from quizzes, but the best way to learn about our world's darkest history pages remains watching a lot of movies (and preferably not the Oscar-winning blockbuster types directed by Steven Spielberg). "21 Hours at Munich" is a straightforward and raw, but hugely compelling, re-telling of the tragedy that occurred during the Summer Olympics of 1972 held in Munich. Several members of the Palestinian terrorist organization Black September invaded the Olympic village, which clearly suffered from a lack of proper security and basic surveillance, and took hostage of nine Israeli athletes and coaches. Two people were violently killed during the takeover. The terrorists' demands were clear and nonnegotiable, namely the release of no less than 234 fellow Palestinian rebels in various Israeli prisons, but Israel denied all forms of collaboration and thus the only thing German authorities could do was try and gain extra time. Less than a day later, hence the title, the act of terrorism resulted in a genuine blood bath at Fürstenfeldbruck Airport, where the nine hostages as well as most of the terrorists got killed by gunfire.

As indicated above already, I wasn't all too familiar with the detailed facts surrounding the Munich Massacre, hence I can't fully judge the accuracy of this film. But, since it's a made-for-TV production that puts the emphasis on dialogs and factual settings instead of sensationalism, I daresay the movie is probably the most accurate depiction of what really happened. The drama effect of the film is quickly established since it's clear from the beginning that the hostage situation can't but result in a tragedy. The Israeli government rejects all negotiations and pushes the responsibility back to the German authorities. Then, the terrorists demand to flee to Cairo but the Egyptian government rejects all negotiations and pushes the responsibility back to the German authorities. For Germany, the situation is extra delicate because of their negative historical reputation. After all, the entire world is watching skeptically whether or not they will prevent the Jewish athletes from dying on German soil. Fascinating, real-life dramatic subject matter makes this one a truly recommended 70's movie. "21 Hours at Munich" is suspenseful and harsh, but always remains respectful towards the victims and never at one point exploits the violent and/or political aspects of the events. The acting performances are terrific, albeit the casting couldn't have been easy. Franco Nero, as the terrorist leader, doesn't look Arabian at all, but nevertheless delivers a powerfully bleak and emotionless performance. William Holden is great as the German chief of police, but Shirley Knight is somewhat redundant as the only female character in the entire movie. She plays the spokesperson of the Olympic committee and – fruitlessly - attempts to create a bond with the terrorists' leader. Also, keep an eye open for David Hess (the psycho from "Last House on the Left") as one of the Israeli hostages.

Truthful film reflecting human hatred of humans even at peace

[adrianovasconcelos · 8/10 · 20 February 2024]

Based on the historian's rule of thumb dictum that the past is the best predictor of the future, there can be little hope for mankind. The example of Easter Island is often given, where research led to the finding that the human population on the island wiped itself out through intertribal wars, leaving only massive stone faces.

I know nothing about Director William Graham, but I can only praise the film's truthfulness and authenticity and the tragic situation it depicts, reflecting the hatred that humans can have for other humans, sometimes for religious reasons as is the case here, where Black September members decided to kidnap and ultimately kill Jewish athletes participating in the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

With a cast that includes such stalwarts as William Holden as Munich police chief, Richard Basehart as Chancellor Willy Brandt, Anthony Quayle as Israeli General Zamir - who disagrees with the German authorities' approach - and Franco Nero in the unlikely role of Issa, leading the terrorist abductors, the film had me interested all the way, thanks mainly to its attempt to keep to the facts that occurred on 5 September 1972.

I have seen other films on the subject, but I would probably rate this the most truthful - probably not as technically well made as MUNICH (2005) but more even and with more fleshed out characters. I did particularly like Holden's portrayal of Dr Shreiber as the dithering police chief with no clue as to how to approach the situation, when to hit the abductors, and failing in the deployment of forces and vehicles at the ambush (I found it especially baffling that the Black September group leader was not an immediate target for termination). I also liked Shirley Knight and how she tries to build some kind of dialogue with Issa in a bid to save human lives - to no avail, unfortunately.

Certainly informative and to the point. 8/10.

Underrated but very influential movie

[marguskiis-39294 · 9/10 · 2 September 2021]

Sadly underrated TV movie which shows one of most dramatic and legendary terrorist tragedies of all times ever. Munich'72massacre is a well known real story, no need to repeat it. The movie, made 4 years later is a small arty gem.

Structure and the edit of the movie is tight and straight, no 70s common loosenessness. Picture is extremely well designed, very cool 70s. The movie is clearly influenced Spielberg 'Munich".

Very interesting method is putting in tragic/comical elements together, side by . Willy Brandt is portrayed as a grotesque guy. German police's tricks look like bad jokes etc etc

Acting is especially good. William Holden as the leadinh police officer is very cool, a bit too british. But Franco Nero as head of terrorisr super.

nice movie

[axitel06 · 8/10 · 9 March 2008]

well done, i think it is nice movie Franco Nero was amazing, he explained the other side opinion in a very nice way, and the movie show how the politicians in Israel are thinking when they caused this tragedy was always hearing about the conflict in middle east but this movie show me that these Arabs are not killers and they fight for a reason. Franco Nero moved my feeling indeed. why they don't try to make new version of this movie other than Munich, a version for the same story and with a same quality of work, again was really super in his performance.I think the movie didn't show the real true story about this event but at least they were so close to the fact.

better than Munich

[kairingler · 9/10 · 17 August 2008]

watched this just a couple of days ago,, and wow, this is a really great made for TV movie,, it doesn't blow everything out of proportion like those Hollylwood movies do, this one tells it straightforward, just as they actually happened, the filming took place on the actual grounds of the 76 Olympics at Munich. William Holden did a wonderful job in this film, as it was near the end of his career. Frances Nero, who i really never heard of before was pretty darn good as the terrorist leader, the movie starts out shortly before the kidnapping of the Israeli athletes, and goes all the way to the final act, i like this one better than Munich cause Munich just concentrated on the aftermath,, investigation,, it didn't do what this film did for me,, and that is to show the planning,, what happened during the kidnapping, and all of that stuff, this film did wonderful explaining to me what really happened that fateful year at the 20th Olympiad.

Decent Suspense With Great Performance By Franco Nero

[Bill357 · 8/10 · 21 May 2009]

The terrorism of 21 Hours At Munich seems almost preferable compared to the ritualistic slaughter performed by the modern cult-like Islamic terrorists. I've heard it said that the surviving terrorists of those days are sometimes shocked by the behavior and attitude of their successors!

Franco Nero gives an excellent performance that totally humanizes (almost too much) the terrorist ringleader and manages to outshine the top billed William Holden. So charismatic (and well dressed) is he that it becomes easy to see how so many people with limited brain capacity got caught up in the "terrorist chic" of the nineteen-seventies.

Nero's character looks dashing and dangerous but in the end comes across as pitiful and naive.

Even though everyone who watches probably knows how this ends, It still manages to be suspenseful enough to hold the viewers attention.