This is an unusual World War 2 movie, full of amusing pretentiousness. Two films about European castles during World War 2 were released in 1968 and 1969: "Where Eagles Dare" and "Castle Keep." While most war film fans have likely heard of “Where Eagles Dare,” a highly regarded action/adventure movie, "Castle Keep" is far less known. There’s a good reason for that. The story involves American soldiers making a stand at a 10th-century castle in Belgium as German forces advance on a nearby village. “Castle Keep” has several strengths: a strong cast including Burt Lancaster, Peter Falk, and Bruce Dern; beautiful Winter scenery and a castle setting in Yugoslavia; exciting action sequences; it’s technically well-made by director Sydney Pollack; and surprisingly, it doesn't feel dated even though it was made fifty years ago. Some viewers describe the film as “poetic” and "haunting," suggesting that the filmmakers aimed for something groundbreaking, meaningful, artistic, and humorous. However, “Castle Keep” remains largely uninteresting until well into the second half when the action picks up. The characters have a lot of dialogue, but it’s difficult to connect with them or care about their fates because the conversations often feel artificial, overly stylized, and hard to decipher. For example, the Count tells Theresa, his wife/niece, "They planned this war because there was something they hadn't yet smashed." She responds, “Who are we, Henri?” He replies, "We are the keepers.” The script is full of such seemingly profound but ultimately empty statements. A captivating story would make these moments acceptable, but that’s not what happens here. Another example of this strange atmosphere: The soldiers visit a village with deserted streets and spend time at the Red Queen, which isn't exactly an ordinary pub. Inside, prostitutes are lounging around in lingerie. It’s hard to believe they were just waiting for soldiers to arrive. I laughed out loud! In fact, I found myself laughing quite a bit throughout the film, suggesting it functions as a satire or subtle war comedy. One reviewer suggested that one of the soldiers, who is also a writer, might simply be recalling events rather than experiencing them firsthand, which would explain the dreamlike and bizarre quality of the film. This seems like a plausible explanation. Others have interpreted it as an allegory about the Vietnam War, which was ongoing when the movie came out. Another interpretation suggests that the film explores the contrast between life and death. The symbolism is rather obvious: The castle represents art or anything else created by humanity, while the countess embodies inspiration and imagination. War is a destructive force that destroys everything in its path: homes and businesses (like the village bakery), religious institutions, military personnel and civilians, even those who advocate for absolute pacifism. The only things it cannot destroy are inspiration and imagination, which will continue to produce art despite the ever-present threat of war. I appreciate films with deeper meanings as long as they’re engaging and handled with sensitivity; “Apocalypse Now” is a good example. While "Apocalypse Now" contains surreal elements, you become invested in the characters and their fates, and it never completely abandons reality. In contrast, “Castle Keep” has moments that are so contrived and unrealistic that they're unintentionally funny (like when Rossi meets the baker’s wife). The biggest mistake a filmmaker can make is to be boring; the second is to be pretentious. Unfortunately, "Castle Keep" commits both of these errors. Thankfully, there are some amusing and exciting scenes, particularly the sequence involving the tower and the plane. Ultimately, “Castle Keep” is an experimental film that will appeal to a limited audience. It was innovative at the time but ultimately failed due to its pretentious nature. I respect it and enjoy many aspects of it as mentioned above, but it feels like something of a flawed attempt. The film runs for 1 hour and 47 minutes. GRADE: B-/C+

Source on TMDB