Playing for Time (1980 TV Movie) User Reviews

Shocking... but it happened

[Emerenciano · 8/10 · 24 June 2018]

I don't know how many Holocaust films I have seen in my life, but I know they are still shocking. Shocking to know it all happened! Shocking to know there are still so many people who don't take it as a real fact.

Anyway, focusing on the film now. "Playing for Time", as many others movies, hits us. And not only because of the strong plot, but because of the performance of the cast. And what a cast! I confess I did not know most of the actors, but their talent is undeniable. But - there's no other way to put it - no one works in "Playing for Time" better than Vanessa Redgrave here. She's great!

When I went to IMDb to find out more about the film I saw it was made for TV. I imagine how strong would it be if Daniel Mann and Joseph Sargent had done this for the movie theatres.

Absorbing, true, excellent acting.

[VIKTORS633 · 8/10 · 2 May 2020]

Harrowing but utterly absorbing. Fine acting throughout in particular Shirley Knight as female guard Mandel and Jane Alexander as Alma Rose. Its obscurity could be because many survivors hated Redgrave being cast as Fenelon as she was a known PLO supporter and harsh critic of Israel. Her casting was initially badly received by former inmates of the camp. Also out of respect to Alma Rose many survivors who knew her have said her representation here is very harsh and unfair. As you can see this movie certainly sparked my interest in the characters. Solid 8/10.

Playing for Time

[petenvee · 8/10 · 1 July 2014]

It is certainly a powerful film, but marred mostly but poor,confusing continuity. The casting of Redgrave in lead role, is controversial, but her acting is superb.A lot of the story was more of a formulaic message rather than the full on impact of the Pianist or Schindler's List.

I came away feeling let down, uninvolved and relatively untouched by the acting AND the story, in spite of the potential power of content. I have visited Auschwitz and have been of the impression that it was the Russians that liberated the camp. A confusing and muddled film that should have hit the mark, but failed in my mind. Perhaps Millar and the producers should have had more time for honing the film, and not spent so much energy on making a hit in their own minds.

The best TV production ever.

[hooshi · 9/10 · 3 April 1999]

Firstly I have to say that this is not your usual stereotype Jewish holocaust movie: It goes much, much beyond any ideological rhetoric, to deal with Human condition.However, you have the Concentration Camp as a background for one of the best contemporary playwrights (arguably The best!) to create and develop his masterpiece .It is worthwhile to know that Arthur Miller persisted in his demand to put Venessa Redgrave in the the leading role, in spite of all the threats and protests of JDL.Here, she presents one of her most magnificent performances as an Artist trapped in the most dehumanizing conditions one could imagine.The dialogue is absolutely superb, and the actings are quite decent.A must see.

superb performance by Vanessa Redgrave

[sroimoi · 10/10 · 2 February 2000]

Playing for Time deserved theatrical release, but as TV fare, perhaps among the finest, ranking up there with The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Being a Jew, I received a lot of flak for applauding Vanessa Redgrave's magnificent performance, but one needs to separate the art from the politics. While physically Ms. Redgrave does not at all resemble the real Fanelon, one can't help feeling that she captured the role. My only criticism is the newswreel type footage used to depict the moving trains. First rate movie

An astonishing masterpiece

[surreal_subtext · 11 November 2004]

It is amazing to me that this film is pretty much unavailable in any format.

What a cast. Vanessa Redgrave. Jane Alexander. Marisa Berenson. Verna Bloom. Melanie Mayron. And a subtle and evocative script by none other than Arthur Miller.

A summary of it sounds unpleasant and harrowing and to a certain extent it is. But there is extraordinary beauty in this daring and unusual picture. A group of women, all musicians, are allowed by the Nazis to remain alive on the condition that they amuse their captors with music.

It simply must be seen, and will never be forgotten. See this picture any way you can. I am sure that in time it will be rediscovered and seen for the sublime utterance that it is.

A long downer

[rps-2 · 7/10 · 21 December 2017]

Auschwitz was not a fun place. But this film is too graphic, too long and too much of a downer. It starts well with brutally grim and realistic scenes. But at almost three hours it's just too lengthy. Although the first half is compelling (if depressing), it gets a little silly and loses its credibility in the second half. I can't be specific without creating spoilers. Let's just say all the characters ---the good guys (gals?) and the bad guys both become somewhat ridiculous. The story, apparently based on reality, is about a group of female inmate musicians who form an orchestra for the pleasure of the camp officials including an unconvincing Josef Mengele. But their performances are dreadful. Never has Beethoven's fifth symphony been played so badly nor Puccini's Madama Butterfly sung so hopelessly. And in bad English at that. They might have taken a little cinematic license and given us enjoyable musical performances. From a production viewpoint, occasional interludes of great music, well played, would have provided brief relief from the unrelenting horror of this endless film.

One of the best movies I've ever seen about the struggle for humanity.

[rondine · 10/10 · 6 September 1999]

This is a wonderful, powerful and very moving picture. This is one of the best WWII films surrounding the victims of the Holocaust. The dialog and acting throughout is superb! I too am aware that the Jewish Defense League didn't want Vanessa Redgrave playing the main character for political reasons. There should be NO politics in acting, just the right actors for the right roles. Ms. Redgrave is definately the right person for the role. I don't know all about her personal politics and don't care when it comes to seeing a movie like this one. Her commitment to this role is absolutely mesmerizing. I even heard that in addition to shaving her head for the role, she used a safety pin to injure her lip instead of just letting the makeup people fake something. She bares her soul in a way that few actors can. Jane Alexander is also very worthy as the Director of the orchestra that Fania(Redgrave) is a part of. If you get a chance to see this on tv, don't miss it. I am fortunate to have taped it when it originally aired. Some video stores may also have a copy. Remembering the past is a way to make sure it is never repeated- if you see this movie, it will be one more vivid memory of why we should never forget.

Unmasking the hate of intolerance

[magicsinglez · 7/10 · 12 July 2006]

'Playing for Time' starring Vanessa Redgrave first aired in 1980 and is based on a true story. A true story teaching the lessons of intolerance and the horrors of the Holocaust. In much the way Sharazod (the mythical wife of a King) would save her own life each night by telling her husband a story but never finishing the tale; in 'Playing for Time' the inmates of a death camp play music for the amusement of the guards thereby escaping extermination. But this is no myth it's a very real means of survival for desperate inmates.

'Playing for Time' is a great movie but gets a little boring. I found myself playing a video game instead of paying close attention to the movie.

Perhaps the best ever movie that has been unrecognized.

[dewey22 · 10/10 · 27 August 1999]

I was more impressed by Vanessa Redgrave's performance than any female performance , in any medium. As a musician prisoner in a Nazi death camp, she exceeded any of her other brilliant performances. Aside from Vanessa, the movie should not be missed and hopefully released again.

Available on Netflix

[ashleyhill-81801 · 9/10 · 16 September 2018]

The movie is fantastic. Superb acting. Redgrave may not resemble the real Fania, or sing as well as some others up for the part- but this role requires the acting chops few possess. Read the other reviews. I am posting this because the movie is finally available to see on Netflix.

A view from alternative press

[cmdrlyur · 5/10 · 18 August 2017]

As independent journalist and defending free speech and alternative media, I may not agree with the general consent of public and mainstream reviews. While the acting is superb and should be rightly acclaimed, with a special mention for Vanessa Redgrave and Jane Alexander, the editing and montage is awful, with quite an incongruity mixing of filming from the period. Sound is not convincing as it is supposed to be, firearms shooting night and day, and shouting. The bombing of the camp is not accurate, the allies never agreed to do it even knowing the very truth quite early. And the army liberating the camp is shown to us as English soldiers, while it was the Red Army and Russian soldiers doing just that. How could such an huge historical mistake - not to mention other mistakes - could portray for us other supposed true events in this film ? Script and editing merit a very low note.

very moving human drama

[freebird-9 · 15 March 2004]

This moving human Drama is one of the most touching movies I have ever seen.

Vanessa Redgrave is superb and strong as Fania Fénelon, a jewish singer from

France ending up in Auschwitz, and makes the role of her life.

I would say it is as important and grand as 'Schindler's List' and 'The Pianist', about the horrors of the Holocaust.

So, why is this not available on video? I've been trying for years to get hold of a copy of this moving drama.. and nobody seems to know who's holding the

copyright... It's really a shame that this classic is not available on dvd!!

An Excellent Movie

[Lew Gordon · 10/10 · 3 May 2002]

It has been years since I have seen this on TV. Being Jewish and understanding the holocaust, I love this movie with Vanessa Redgrave. I just wish it came on TV more. The visuals were excellent, the plot very real, and it was an absolute delight to see how well it was portrayed.

Hard to swallow but amazing to watch

[Peacefulautistic · 10/10 · 10 December 2019]

The movie is deep and haunting. It gives me the creeps. I can't feel confident saying it's an amazing movie because of the subject matter but, I really enjoyed the movie. It was well directed and beautifully covered the topic at hand. 10/10 would watch again!

The best Tv Movie I've ever seen!

[gokselll · 10/10 · 4 August 2019]

This movie is very very upper than I expected. Extraordinary realistic acting performances and wonderful scenes make the movie place among the best auswitsch movies.

It is too unfortunate that I was unaware about this movie since, I think, it was shot as a Tv movie and didn't released in my country, before.

Obligation of prisoned women to perform music in SS camps (for killers) provides what a convenient tension for the cinema and it's how sorrowful to know that all pictured scenes are really happened events.

I can surely express that this movie's magnificence underlies in not only its touching to true happenings of real victims but also its cinematographic power on narration.

Not just another tv movie...

[perci13 · 10/10 · 17 July 2002]

This made for tv movie should have been made for the big screen.

It was a great story and had such moving performances. Linda Yellen should be making feature films. I'll always be looking out to see if it will be rerunning on tv.

My comments once again stirred deep emotions for these people

[pipic8 · 10/10 · 28 June 2002]

One of the most haunting,soul-wrenching dramas I have ever seen, made much more so because it actually happened! The cruelty & unfeeling actions portrayed by the German officers gave me the feeling that I wanted to scream! It was so gut-wrenching. It is a movie we all should see lest we forget the reign of terror inflicted by the horror's of war.

Not very convincing

[saska_jovicic · 4/10 · 22 September 2020]

I think that casting in this movie was terrible. Vanesa is wonderful actress but simply wrong for this part. One of the main things in Fanias book was that she was pettite. Atmosphere is also wrong, I could not relate with scenes of the murder camp, I know it is a movie, but it was verry obvious that everything is staged. I did not like this ecranization much. I loved Fanias book, tough.

Redgrave is a wonder to behold

[bettycjung · 9 December 2017]

12/7/17. An excellent look at the Holocaust through the lives and eyes of the Jewish women who were spared because they were willing to entertain the Nazis with their musical talent as part of the Women's Orchestra in Auschwitz. From great pain comes great music, but, oh, under such horrible circumstances! While this movie was based on a play by Arthur Miller, which based his work on the memoirs of the surviving members of this group, the women portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave was not happy with Redgrave's casting (although she went on to win awards for the portrayal) and wanted Liza Minnelli to play her. The acting was superb. Definitely worth watching, especially if you love music.

One of the Most Touching and Realistic Films about Survival and Loss of Dignity in a Concentration Camp

[claudio_carvalho · 10/10 · 10 August 2012]

In World War II, the Jewish French musician and cabaret singer Fania Fenelon Goldstein (Vanessa Redgrave) is sent by the Nazis from Paris to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. The guards take her clothing and luggage and they cut her hair very short. One day, when she is very weak, she hears someone asking whether any prisoner could sing Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly and she joins the group of musicians that have been spared from the gas chambers to entertain the Nazis performing music for them. She convinces the conductor Alma Rose (Jane Alexander) to invite her friend Marianne (Melanie Mayron), telling that she would be a talented singer. Along the years of abusive treatment, they survive but losing their dignity.

"Playing for Time" is one of the most touching and realistic films about survival and loss of dignity in a concentration camp. I have a great admiration for the awarded Mrs. Vanessa Redgrave and I believe that "Playing for Time" is her best role and performance in her admirable career. I had seen this television film many years ago on VHS and yesterday I saw it in a Brazilian DVD that unfortunately does not have an image of good quality but anyway it is worthwhile watching this to see and never forget how cruel human being may be. My vote is ten

Title (Brazil): "Amarga Sinfonia de Auschwitz" ("Bitter Symphony of Auschwitz")

What Vanessa told me

[steve-1338 · 10/10 · 7 April 2005]

This is a great movie and I've seen it on TV. I cannot understand why there is no DVD or video -- except that Vanessa Redgrave once told me that he movie was "banned" in the United States because of her support of the Palestinians.

I told her I had seen it on TV and that her last scene at the liberation of Auschwitz was extraordinary.

Another reason I liked the movie was that it was the first film even to mention my personal heroine, Mala Zimetbaum, about whom I have written.

My story about Mala can be found at: http://www.ideajournal.com/articles.php?id=15

Best film never released

[kazjon68 · 9/10 · 24 November 2006]

This is probably the best film of its type I have seen, I have watched the film twice and can not understand why it has not been released on general release, DVD or video. I understand it was a TV movie but it is a classic film and I would like to purchase the film so that others can watch with me. I have spoken to countless people about this film and everyone remembers the film. It is a sad, emotion filled film. The end scene brought tears to the eyes and I am surprised that it is not scheduled for viewing more than it is. I commend this film to all, in the hope that someday it may be released for sale to the general public.

Arthur Miller

[Lynn-Redmond · 10/10 · 11 February 2005]

I was in this movie (I was Marisa Berenson's stand-in) and Arthur Miller was on the set almost every day. As was his wife - taking pictures. Talk about a living legend. I regret, to this day, that I did not get his autograph (although I did get Vanessa Redgrave's and a few other's). Just being in the presence of this man was an incredible experience. What a privilege it was for a "small town girl" to experience this. It lives through me to this day - my daughter (born long after my experience on this film) is very interested in the Holocaust because of my experience on this film. My best wishes go out to his family. I don't think - in our lifetime - we will EVER experience a talent such as his. He will be missed!

Vanessa's Best

[AlanSKaufman · 10/10 · 6 March 2017]

Playing for Time is based on a true story in Auschwitz. Paradoxically we see no gas chambers because the central character portrayed by Vanessa Redgrave survives by performing in a camp orchestra for the benefit of the camp bosses.

Instead we get an in depth portrayal of "life" in the death camp through the remarkable portrayal of the lead actress. I have never seen a role where Vanessa is not thoroughly convincing in her performance. I must comment on the frequent criticism that in her personal life she holds controversial views. I find this totally irrelevant. In their professional roles, actors are precisely that and we marvel how they can realistically display unimaginable features. Vanessa is the finest of actors and that alone is what must matter.

I recall a holocaust film that focused on naked women being herded into a gas chamber. Ratings determined that many viewers were "turned on" by such a scene. How contemptible! In this film you will not be "turned on" by anything, rather you will feel the horrors of the experience.

One of the creepiest characters is Dr. Mengele. At times almost gently polite, we know that he was one of the most evil camp physicians. As some bosses were busy partying, it was the physicians who selected the victims for immediate death or for merciless medical experimentation. Most doctors escaped punishment after the camp was liberated.

This excellent movie gives you a real taste of the death camp. Even the train ride to the facility is graphic in detail. A powerful film, with a powerful actress who will transport you there and guard you from personal harm.