| Ten Seconds to Hell | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Aldrich |
| Screenplay by | Robert Aldrich Teddi Sherman |
| Based on | The Phoenix byLawrence P. Bachmann |
| Produced by | Michael Carreras |
| Starring | Jack Palance Jeff Chandler Martine Carol Robert Cornthwaite Virginia Baker Richard Wattis Wesley Addy Dave Willock James Goodwin Nancy Lee |
| Cinematography | Ernest Laszlo |
| Edited by | Henry Richardson |
| Music by | Muir Mathieson Kenneth V. Jones Richard Farrell |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 93 min. |
| Countries | United Kingdom West Germany |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.1 million[1] |
| Box office | 331,938 admissions (France)[2] |
Ten Seconds To Hell (released in the UK asThe Phoenix) is a 1959 British and West German film directed byRobert Aldrich, based onLawrence P. Bachmann's novelThe Phoenix. TheHammer Films/UFA joint production starsJack Palance,Jeff Chandler andMartine Carol.
Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film focuses on a half-dozen Germans who return toa devastated Berlin and find employment as abomb disposal squad, tasked with clearing the city of unexplodedAllied bombs. They form atontine, into which they pool half of their salaries which those still alive at the end of three months will divide. Eventually, only two men are left.
Robert Aldrich's direction is noted for its meticulous attention to the techniques of bomb deactivation and disposal.[3]
In post-war Berlin, BritishMajor Haven recruits members of what's left of a returning Germanbomb disposal unit—Hans Globke, Peter Tillig, Wolfgang Sulke, Franz Loeffler, Karl Wirtz and Eric Koertner—to defuseunexplodedAllied bombs throughout the city.
Karl bets Eric that he will outlive him. The other men soon agree that half of their salaries will go to the survivors in three months' time. Major Haven assigns Frau Bauer as theirliaison. Karl volunteers to lead the unit, but the men vote for the reluctant Eric instead.
Later, Karl and Eric move into aboarding house run by pretty young widow Margot Hoefler, a Frenchwoman whose German husband died during the war.
The men defuse numerous bombs without incident; then young Globke is killed after a British 1000-pound bomb he thought he had properly defused blows up. Eric gives the others the chance to leave, but nobody accepts. Later, Haven offers Eric the same choice, for him and his men, but he turns it down. Suspecting that the 1000-pound bombs have double fuses, Eric asks Haven to request information.
After a night out together, a drunk Karl returns with Margot. He tries to force himself on her, so Eric bursts in and orders Karl to leave. When Eric criticizes her behavior, Margot explains that she is considered a traitor by the French and an outsider to the Germans. She then accuses him of denying his own desires.
A few days later, Tillig is trapped under a bomb by the partial collapse of a building. Eric and Karl race to the site, followed by the others; Eric rushes into the building, and after some hesitation, Karl follows him. Despite Tillig's protests, Karl starts defusing the bomb, but Eric takes over, as it is his turn, sends Karl to fetch a doctor, and neutralizes the bomb. While the doctor treats Tillig, Eric goes outside to guide the men and equipment; Karl leaves too. Before they arrive, the building collapses on Tillig and the doctor. Distraught, Eric returns to the boardinghouse where he seeks solace from Margot. The next day, Eric takes Margot to another ruined section of the city to show her something, but changes his mind. (The foundation stone of a building reveals that he designed it.) Eric finally admits he loves Margot.
Back at headquarters, Haven tells Eric that they are having trouble getting information. Haven reveals that Eric is Dr. Koertner, a promising architect before the war. Eric tells Haven that he was forced into demolitions for expressing hisanti-Nazi sentiments. Karl urges him to quit, but Eric refuses.
A month before the wager's deadline, Sulke is killed defusing another 1000-pounder. Eric and Loeffler discuss giving the bet money to Sulke's widow and baby. Karl scoffs at the suggestion. The next day Loeffler drowns trying to defuse a bomb found in a canal when his air line is cut and nobody notices. That afternoon Margot urges Eric to give up; he explains he has come to realize "this is a battle of survival between the Karls of the world and the me's of the world, nothing more." Margot tells him she loves him regardless, and they embrace.
Later, Karl phones and says he has a 1000-pound bomb. Eric joins him to make an inspection. Eric has an idea on how to defuse it, which Karl decides to try. After removing the top of the bomb, Karl calls for help, saying the secondary firing pin has slipped and is only being kept from activating by his finger. Eric gives him a pencil to replace his finger. Eric holds the pencil in place and sends Karl to retrieve his tools. Then Karl pulls the rope used to unscrew the cap, forcing him to release the pencil. The bomb does not explode, and realizing that Karl has tried to kill him, Eric punches him in the face. Karl says, "Guess it's still my bomb," and resumes defusing the bomb. Once Eric is a safe distance away, the bomb explodes, killing Karl.
Robert Aldrich had just been fired from makingThe Garment Jungle:
I couldn't get a job. Now that year was over, and I couldn't get a job. It goes back to staying at the table. Anybody that stays away for awhile, voluntarily or involuntarily, risks never coming back. Then somebody brought meThe Phoenix. I figured I might as well get out of town, so I rewrote it much to its detriment and went to Germany.[4]
It was only the second film from the newly formedSeven Arts Productions.[5] The original title wasThe Phoenix[6] and it was also known as6 to 1[7] andThe ExtraEdge.[8]
Filming took place in Berlin over a ten-week period.[9]
Variety called it "a downbeat picture that registers little audience impact."[10]
Ten Seconds to Hell was released to Blu-ray DVD by Kino Lorber (under license from MGM) on February 24, 2015 as a Region 1 disc.
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In the early 2000s, a remake of the film was planned, withGore Verbinski directing.[11]