the multiple plot twists keep you guessing right 'til the end

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2000)

Richard Burton gives an excellent performance, as always. Clint Eastwood looks really young and confused a contrast to his later screen performances. His character was either stupid or the script made a serious mistake early in the film when he should have noticed the Major's lie about the code book.
The film is somewhat dated, but is still exciting and fast moving. The intermission is a curiosity of the times as it was very long at the time of release (2.5 hrs).
I saw this film when it was first released and also just recently. Perhaps being older I can see the flaws in the story that I did not notice the first time. Notably, everybody jumps into freezing water, does not suffer, and miraculously dries off in the next few scenes.