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The Ceremony (1963 film)

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The Ceremony
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLaurence Harvey
Screenplay byBen Barzman
Based onLa cérémonie
by Frédéric Grendel
Produced byLaurence Harvey
StarringLaurence Harvey
Sarah Miles
Robert Walker Jr.
John Ireland
Ross Martin
Lee Patterson
Jack MacGowran
Murray Melvin
Noel Purcell
CinematographyOswald Morris
Edited byRalph Kemplen
Music byGerard Schurmann,
Carlo Martelli
Production
company
Magla
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • December 18, 1963 (1963-12-18)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Ceremony is a 1963 American crime film directed by Laurence Harvey and written by Ben Barzman. The film stars Laurence Harvey, Sarah Miles, Robert Walker Jr., John Ireland, Ross Martin, Lee Patterson, Jack MacGowran, Murray Melvin and Noel Purcell. The film was released on December 18, 1963, by United Artists.[1][2]

Plot

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The story is set in Tangier when it was an internationally controlled territory separate from Morocco during the years leading towards Morocco regaining its independence. Sean (Harvey) is held in a castle prison awaiting execution after a bank guard has been killed during a robbery. The robbery may have political implications. Various administrative officials want Sean to say where the money is and the execution is politically important to show that the administration is upholding the law. Sean, an atheist, refuses to see a priest, Fr O’Brien. Outside Sean’s girlfriend, Catherine, is drawn into an escape plot and intimacy with Sean’s brother, Dominic. Catherine visits Sean and tells him to see a priest. Dominic arrives at the prison impersonating a priest and with the help of a guard they escape. Sean and Dominic are reunited with Catherine but they are traced by armed forces. Dominic gets to a car and leads the police away from the others as a decoy. He is chased until he is forced off the road and engulfed in his flaming car. Disfigured and thought to be Sean, he is brought back to prison for execution. Fr O’Brien finds Sean and reveals Dominic is awaiting execution telling Sean that his sacrifice is proof that God exists. Most of the firing squad are disgusted at the execution and fire into the sky but Dominic is executed just before Sean arrives. Sean lifts up his body and declares to the other prisoners that his brother has died to save him.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Ceremony (1963) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. ^ "The Ceremony". TV Guide. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ^ The Ceremony (1963) - IMDb, retrieved 2022-11-29
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