Before Winter Comes


Before Winter Comes is a 1969 British film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Andrew Sinclair.

Plot

Before Winter Comes takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II. British Major Giles Burnside is assigned to an Austrian refugee camp; his mission is to send the groups of displaced civilians to either the Russian zone or the American zone. Burnside is a by-the-book officer but he runs into trouble with the translation of the many different languages. However, one of the refugees, Janovic, can speak many languages and is willing to help. Janovic quickly conveys Burnside's orders and helps the camp run smoothly. Janovic runs into romance with a lovely innkeeper, Maria, until he discovers her affair with Burnside. Meanwhile, Janovic is found to be a Russian deserter, who should be returned to the Russian mainland to be executed. Burnside offers to help him escape, but Janovic cannot decide whether to trust him.

Cast

The film opened at the Sutton Theatre in New York City on 24 March 1969 and grossed $17,846 in its first week.