Sergeant Dower must die

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Movie
Original title Sergeant Dower must die
Country of production Germany
original language German
Publishing year 1964
length 107 minutes
Rod
Director Michael Kehlmann
script Terence Feely (translation and television adaptation: Claus Hardt )
production Werner Preuss (Production Management), Franz Josef Wild (Production)
camera Hans Egon Koch
cut Gabriele Kaden
occupation

Sergeant Dower muss die is a German television film from 1964 based on the play Shout for Life (title later changed to: Sergeant Dower Must Die ) by Terence Feely .

action

During the Cyprus conflict in the late 1950s, 23-year-old British Sergeant Hugh Dower is captured by rebels fighting for Cyprus' independence from the British. They are demanding the release of one of their leaders, Colonel Danos, who was captured by the British. Otherwise, they would kill Dower. However, the British Prime Minister Glencannon does not want to enter into negotiations and accepts Dower's death. His wife tries to convince him to think morally rather than strategically and to save Dower. Glencannon does not respond to this and discusses with his PR advisor Roger Smart how to “sell” a possible death of Dower to the population and present the decision made as the only correct one.

In addition, the viewer learns of an affair between Smart and Mrs. Glencannon. She is so indignant about her husband's decision in the Dower case that she now wants to part with him. He knows about the affair, has no objection to it, and only tries to dissuade her from a separation for career reasons.

The rebels made Dower an offer that he could address the British government directly via a radio embassy. In this speech, Dower not only asks to save his life, he literally demands it. He makes it clear that his death would be completely pointless, thus bringing the British people on his side, who are now taking to the streets for his release. When Glencannon realizes that the mood is turning against him, he makes a political about-face and releases Colonel Danos, so that Dower is also released.

In a personal conversation between Glencannon and Dower after his return home, Dower reveals that the rebels only wanted to free Colonel Danos in order to execute him for collaborating with the enemy. In front of the public, Glencannon pretends to have known this from the start. Because he wants to prevent Dower from being worshiped as a hero by the population, he spreads the false information that Dower was the victim of brainwashing by the rebels and was not in her right mind during the radio address.

Dower's family (his parents, his sister Sue and his uncle Rees) are very worried about him and are following the events through the newspaper and the radio. The uncle in particular is disappointed by the government's machinations and grumbles at the politicians who use the “little man” for their own purposes. When Dower is allowed to return to his family, he sits down at the typewriter in order to, one may assume, write down his story and counter it with the official propaganda.

production

The film is a Bayerischer Rundfunk production and was broadcast for the first time on September 3, 1964.

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