Playing for Time

TV Movie
1980
2h 30m

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

2.9K

YOUR RATING

Drama Music

Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.

Directors
- Daniel Mann
- Joseph Sargent
Writers
- Arthur Miller
- Fania Fénelon
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.3/10

2.9K

YOUR RATING

Directors
- Daniel Mann
- Joseph Sargent
Writers
- Arthur Miller
- Fania Fénelon
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 4 Primetime Emmys
- 5 wins & 4 nominations total

Trivia
The real Fania Fenelon was upset over the casting of Dame Vanessa Redgrave due to her support of the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Goofs
Upon joining the camp orchestra, Fania Fenelon (Vanessa Redgrave) is asked by the women's commandant for her shoe size. Fenelon replies with the American shoe size "9", whereas in reality she would have given the European equivalent size of 40.

Quotes
Alma Rose: We must constantly raise the level of our playing, or I really don't know how long they will tolerate us.

Connections
Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)

Soundtracks
J'Attendrai
(Tornerai)
Music by Dino Olivieri
Italian lyrics by Nino Rastelli
French lyrics by Louis Poterat
Performed by Vanessa Redgrave

User reviews38

Review

Featured review

10/10

Perhaps the best ever movie that has been unrecognized.

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.