Avaliações de usuários

I have loved this movie ever since I was a child when it seemed to be on television regularly in the 60s and 70s. It was also my mother's favourite film and I once arranged for it to be shown at the British Film Institute in London as a birthday gift for her.

However, just wanted to tell people that it is now available on DVD in Germany. Unfortunately only a dubbed version (with no subtitles) but for someone like me who was desperate to see it again - it was better than nothing. I have absolutely no idea why this film has not been made more available within the UK, on video, or on television where it not been shown to my knowledge within the last 20 years. Once again I have loved this moving love story which given the subject matter of the film could only end the way it does. Also, it is the only film I have seen where Marius Goring was sexy!!

How sad that this film appears to have been lost - how do you "lose" such an good film?

I too have only seen it once, on television - was it in the seventies? But I've never forgotten it, and always kept an eye out for it to appear on television again, especially since the advent of cable, or in video stores, but it has eluded me.

I've always liked Marius Goring's work - yes, I fell in love with him in The Red Shoes - but this film was particularly strong in both story- line and casting. I've always preferred black and white film for drama, and it was just right for this romantic and ultimately tragic story.

I'm rating it high, although I saw it so long ago and can't remember details, but for any film to have had such an impact that one can't forget it decades later after one viewing, means it deserves the highest rating.

I only ever saw this movie once, and that was in the late 1960's when I was doing my year 12 (back then matriculation)exams. I remember that I had a Friday afternoon exam, so my parents allowed me to stay up late to unwind. I also recall my Father exiting shortly after it started, and my Mother attempting to turn the TV off, when Nicole flung herself into Colonel Holensee's arms, because she didn't want her erstwhile enemy to leave her family mansion. Thankfully I didn't give into my Mother's discomfort, and was the only one to watch it to its tear jerking end.

I had always liked Marius Goring in THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, but after seeing him in SO LITTLE TIME, I developed a schoolgirl crush on him that I have never fully recovered from. This movie has left a lasting impression on my mind after a single viewing. It was wonderful finding this web page and reading other people's responses to it. It made me realize that I wasn't as nutty as I thought I was.

I would love to see this movie again, partly to check to see if any of the details I think I recall, are indeed correct. For instance I think that I remember that Colonel Holensee had an old war wound on one side of his face, which periodically gave him trouble, prompting him to pop a pill or two. Then there was Anna, the housekeeper/cook (Janet from the 1960's DR. FINLAY'S CASEBOOK)at the de Malvines' mansion, who bossed the Colonel's batman about. One scene I think I managed to confirm, is when Holensee takes Nicole to THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, they watch the final act from the wings. Shortly after that scene I think that I recall another scene at the theatre, when an old friend/flame(?)of Holensee is alone with him. She has noticed that the Colonel is smitten with Nicole, and so tells him to do something as there is "so little time". At the very end, after Holensee has shot himself (as they all did in DOWNFALL), I think that there was a shot (camera this time, not gun) of the batman wiping his glasses, and then the rain beginning to fall on some autumn leaves.

One thing that I am 95% certain of is that I saw this movie on ABC TV (Australian Broadcasting Commission), as out TV was rarely turned on to other channels. I emailed them in late January this year. I received this response a week later "I am sorry to say that the ABC does not currently have the rights to screen this film. However I have noted your request and will forward it on to Television Acquisitions so that they are aware of your interest".

My gut feeling is:

a)the ABC still has a copy of SO LITTLE TIME

b)the copyright is held by the German company who have so annoyingly dubbed it into Deutsch

c)the ABC is probably not interested in buying the screening rights because they are either too expensive, or it would be a waste of staff time trying to purchase rights from a German company they don't normally deal with, or both.

If anyone in Australia would like to see SO LITTLE TIME again, or indeed for the first time, please email the ABC, or write to them. Maybe if they get a number of enquiries, they might actually do something about acquiring the screening rights.

Saw this movie as a child but never got to see the end of the film. My wonderful husband tracked down a dubbed German copy re-titled "Wenn das Herz spricht" on the internet for my birthday. Have contacted the Library of Congress--they own a copy but for some reason this U.K.-made movie is not available to the public. Would love to see the original English version that I saw in 1968 while babysitting. The couple came home and I never got to see the end of the movie! It was shown on a cable or PBS channel in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area c. 1968. Maria Schell and Marius Goring were so real and touching in their portrayals. Would love to hear other viewer comments about this poignant and achingly beautiful story.

A poignant, bittersweet tale of forbidden love between a young woman and a much older man who also happens to be a Nazi officer occupying her country. The chemistry between Marius Goring and Maria Schell isn't too convincing, but the story is told with intelligence.

I researched this site to try to find out if a DVD (restored?) existing of this haunting film and discovered from the comments of viewers that many are also endeavoring to just merely obtain any copy of the film which apparently has gone off the market. I am fortunate apparently to have had a VHS copy I taped from a PBS showing a long time. I have transferred the same to DVD with good success. Perhaps copies could be obtained from PBS New Hampshire or Vermont TV stations where I think mine originated. I would gladly forward a copy of recording to interested persons for a small fee to cover DVD and shipping costs but I'm afraid that is illegal.

Bill Perry

It's hard to figure out who this bizarre retread as soap opera of a subject far more hauntingly handled by Jean-Pierre Melville in 'Le Silence de la Mer' was aimed at; since few British women experienced the temptation of 'horizontal collaboration' (at least with Germans) that women on the Continent did during the war years.

Marius Goring is at his least ingratiating as the uninvited German guest and shows far less affection for Belgium than his predecessor in the earlier had for France. Needless to say, none of the cast seem to be played by authentic Belgians; and the resistance are portrayed as a creepy bunch.

(The line in the caption field, by the way, comes from 'Odette' not this.)

This movie has haunted me since the day I saw it in August of 1955. I have never had movie stick in my mind like this one. I would love to have a video of it and have never seen in anywhere and I always look for it. Cannot believe that it has not been put out for purchase. My husband (who since passed away) and I often discussed it in years following our seeing it. It impressed him as well, so I know it isn't just a "woman's sentimental" memory. It remains my favorite Maria Schell movie to this day!

As far as impossible love stories go, they don't get more impossible than this one.

Maria Schell is Nicole de Malvine, the heroine of the story, a Belgian young woman from a rich family, who lives with her mother in a beautiful house. Belgium is occupied by the Germans and all the men of the family are arrested and executed, with the sole exception of Philippe, whose whereabouts are unknown.

When the house is requisitioned for a German officer, Nicole is indignant and expresses her hatred to the Commandant, a stern middle-aged man.

However, through their mutual love for music, the unlikely pair starts to share time and inevitably they fall in love, knowing there's no future for them.

A sort of Suite française, but more tragic, the story is believable because both main characters are very good at playing without overdoing the naive Belgian girl and the lonely German officer.

There have been other portrayals of fatal relationships arising in wartime. This one sets out to have great pathos but lacks conviction, due to the lack of chemistry between the principals. I have to lay the blame with Marius Goring (whom I like in other things). He holds the heroine very stiffly, and plants blunt passionless kisses on her face, mostly missing her lips. As it appeared the last thing he wanted to do was kiss a girl, I was led to the hypothesis he was of the other persuasion, although I can't find any support for this in IMDb. Maybe it's mostly that expressions of passion were very stylized and formal in the films of the 1950s. Anyway,a passionate lover he is not, although he is good in the persona of the arrogant Nazi. Maria Schell is lovely and very simpatico, although the celestial smile on her face is over-used. The story is effective in depicting her as naive and confused, although as her character acts more and more foolishly towards the end, I rapidly lost sympathy. There is plenty of suspense and it's a good-looking film. It could have been so much more engaging with better acting and direction, hence a 5.

By all accounts this was originally to be set in France and to be directed by one of the great 'auteurs' Max Ophuls but the subject matter was deemed too sensitive for a country that had endured humiliating defeat and occupation by the Nazis. The action was relocated to Belgium with the capable Compton Bennett in the director's chair but the sympathetic portrayal of Wehrmacht officer Hohensee, his relationship with Belgian girl Nicole who is more than half his age and not least the deeply unpleasant character of resistance fighter Philippe, only succeeded in rattling a few cages and ruffling a few feathers.

Such sensibilities were perfectly understandable at the time but seventy years on it is hopefully possible to see it in a more objective light.

Although for this viewer at any rate this is not a great film, it is undeniably a very good one, deeply touching at times and featuring some beautiful performances. This was not the only time of course that Marius Goring was to don a German uniform but this immensely cultured artiste excels here and is given the chance to invest his character with both depth and dimension. He also has the great good fortune to be cast opposite Maria Schell who brings the intensity and sensibility that were so much a part of her appeal in films in which she starred for such as Clément, Kautner, Visconti, Siodmak and Mann. I cannot recall a single film of hers in which her special quality has not rubbed off on her leading man and this one is certainly no exception.

Sterling support as always from grande dame Gabrielle Dorziat who brings a touch of class to every film in which she appears whilst Lucie Mannheim and Barbara Mullen impress in smaller roles. One would have to say that the younger supporting players are no more than adequate and that the skirmish between German soldiers and members of the Belgian resistance is rather a damp squib but on the whole the film's strengths outweigh its weaknesses which is all one can hope for in all but the very greatest of films. Let's face it, Compton Bennett is no Max Ophuls.

I have just finished the excellent autobiography by Oswald Morris who was the Director of Photography on this film.He does a really excellent job,and is the only noteworthy aspect of this risible story.It stretches credulity beyond breaking point to believe that Goring would have a relationship with Schell.Goring is quite good as the officer but Schell is quite wearing as the girl.

I have been waiting for over 40 years to see this movie again but so far to my knowledge it is not available anywhere. This film has been forgotted by everyone, sad but true. It is really one of the finest world war 2 films made in the UK. I only wish someone, somehow, can bring it back. I made numerous efforts to find this film but so far no one can tell me where it can be obtained. I have written to many film studios in the UK but all tell me the film is not availabe. No one can tell me why but the film cannot be bought, shown, or distributed by anyone. It is as if it never existed but to those of us who know the film realize it was a wonderful love story true to world war 2 love story films.

So Little Time is the moving WWII tale of a 20 year-old girl (Maria Schell) in occupied Belgium who falls in love with 45 year-old German commandant (Marius Goring). The movie is based on the novel 'Je Ne Suis Pas Une Heroine' ('I Am Not A Heroine') by Noelle Henry. As others have said, a German-dubbed version of the movie was released on DVD but the original English-language version was (bizarrely) never included. The German DVD title for the movie is 'Wenn Das Herz Sprecht' ('When The Heart Speaks').

I definitely share the pain of all those who have searched high and low for this movie. My own search for it has taken over 5 long years and, among many things, even included contacting descendants of the starring actors.

BUT NOW, some GREAT NEWS! A copy of the original English version has now been found! If you are interested, get in touch.

Rob

I saw this little gem of a film for the first time today and was not let down. Beautiful storyline and brilliantly acted by Marius Goring and the stunning Maria Schell who perhaps deserved an Oscar for her efforts. The story seemed to be told from almost a neutral viewpoint and, though largely set in a couple of rooms never allowed itself to become claustrophobic. One of those films which will always stay with you and leaves you wondering why it is so rarely seen. Once again, thank you Talking Pictures TV.

I saw this film in the very early 60s on a NYC local channel that broadcast a show called Million Dollar Movie, in which the same film was shown every single night for one week. I was 13 or 14 and my mother was away, so I was free to watch it every night, which I did! (She would have scoffed at my teary romanticism.) All its elements -- WW II, resistance fighters, family betrayal, sympathetic German officer and a beautiful and conflicted young woman -- combined to make an unforgettable film. I have never forgotten it, remembering very specific scenes to this day, and I too would give anything to have a copy of it. My daughter lives in Germany, perhaps she can get me the German edition (even tho it is dubbed).

Reading reviews I would just like to say this has been shown in the UK on Talking Pictures 2020. They normally repeat showings which I'm hoping for as for some reason while sleeping my recorder stopped recording 71 minutes into the film so I don't know the ending. Well worth a viewing

Watched this casually not impressed by the title and am just overwhelmed by its emotion and power . One of the most powerful films about the lunacy of war and blind patriotism . Beautifully lit and shot , wonderfully designed and acted throughout .. unbearably romantic but brutally real in its tragedy . Maria Schell is spellbinding in her tremulous beauty and Goring is terrifying as the artist blunted by the idiocy of armed service Amazing !

I can't recall when I first saw this movie but I didn't soon forget it.Without a doubt one of Maria Schell's greatest roles.Marius Goring was also great in his role.And an uncharacteristic part for him.I only wish it was available on video.

Surprisingly well-produced British film has a superior story and performances with strikingly good- looking Oswald Morris (Guns of Navarone) cinematography. Director Compton Bennett proves he is well up to the task of turning out a superior movie and his talented cast never let him down. Striking German actress Maria Schell gives a thoughtful turn as Nicole, a young girl livening in war-torn Brussels whose family home is requisitioned to provide a residence for a top-ranking German Colonel - bringing unavoidable human complications to all concerned. Marius Goring is perfect as the German.

Unfortunately, the wartime themes explored by this picture were considered controversial at the time of its initial release so was not as well-received as it deserved to be - but plays well today. The re-mastered Network/Studio Canal DVD offers bright clear images and good sound - recommended for lovers of quality British drama.