Beyond the Mountains (1967) User Reviews

Bland

[JohnSeal · 4/10 · 8 January 2005]

There's not much to recommend this bloated and overlong international co-production. Stars Maxmillian Schell and Raf Vallone play brothers in the Polish Army who, in 1940, flee their Siberan labor camp in an effort to reach the comparative safety of Afghanistan. First, though, they must sojourn in Uzbekistan, where they are sheltered by kindly Ibram (Fernando Rey). Unfortunately, Schell falls for Ibram's lovely wife Ajmi (Irene Papas) whilst Vallone develops a crush on local lass Marusia (Maria Perschy) before falling ill to a case of typhus. All of these soap opera style diversions lead up to the film's less than thrilling escape climax, as our intrepid heroes finally try to cross into Afghanistan. Your eyes will have glazed over by the 50 minute mark, but the film drags on for another hour.