Five Graves to Cairo (1943): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Five Graves to Cairo is a 1943 war thriller directed by Billy Wilder, starring Erich von Stroheim as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Franchot Tone and Akim Tamiroff. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes and earned $58 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Billy Wilder
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Paramount Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Five Graves to Cairo About?
The premise of Five Graves to Cairo without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After the British forces are routed by Rommel, a lone survivor reaches the Egyptian frontier and takes shelter in a lonely desert hotel. To avoid detection he assumes the identity of a recently deceased waiter. The hotel’s proprietor aids him, though the French chambermaid protests, fearing that Rommel’s troops will soon arrive.
Five Graves to Cairo Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- egypt
- desert
- behind enemy lines
- world war two
- british soldier
- grave
- hotel
- afrika corps
- tank
- based on play
- british military
- nazi soldier
+38 more Show fewer
- sweating
- desert hotel
- sewing
- water pitcher and basin
- air raid
- reference to aida the opera
- salt and pepper shakers
- cellar
- reference to wittenberge concentration camp
- breakfast in bed
- cairo egypt
- posing as a waiter
- general
- hiding behind a hotel desk
- maid
- british eighth army
- sun stroke
- talking to the dead
- graveside speech
- bagpipes
- telegram
- fez
- prisoner of war
- double agent
- limp
- rice pudding
- spy
- german
- parasol
- sahara
- nazi
- throwing salt over shoulder
- hot weather
- military uniform
- year 1942
- reference to bernard montgomery
- reference to erwin rommel
- reference to the year 1937
Five Graves to Cairo Cast & Characters
Erich von Stroheim leads the cast as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, with Franchot Tone as Cpl. John J. Bramble / Paul Davos and Akim Tamiroff as Farid. Directed by Billy Wilder; 25 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Billy Wilder
- Erich von Stroheim as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel
- Franchot Tone as Cpl. John J. Bramble / Paul Davos
-
Akim Tamiroff as Farid -
Anne Baxter as Mouche
Also Starring in Five Graves to Cairo
· 21 more- Otto Reichow German Engineer (uncredited)
- Frederick Giermann German Sergeant (uncredited)
- John Royce German Technician
- Fortunio Bonanova Gen. Sebastiano
- Peter van Eyck Lt. Schwegler
- Bill Mussetter Schwegler (Body Guard)
- Konstantin Shayne Maj. Von Buelow (uncredited)
- Bud Geary English Tank Commander (uncredited)
- Hans Moebus Third Soldier (uncredited)
- Miles Mander Colonel Fitzhume (uncredited)
- Ian Keith Capt. St. Bride (uncredited)
- Art Gilmore Trailer Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
- Leslie Denison British Captain (uncredited)
- Fred Nurney Maj. Lamprecht (uncredited)
- Roger Creed Fourth Soldier (uncredited)
- Philip Ahlm Second Soldier (uncredited)
Show all 25 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sam Waagenaar Rommel's Orderly
- John Erickson First Soldier
- Kenneth Anspach German Soldier
- Clyde Jackman Rommel's Orderly
- Peter F.U. Pohlney German Soldier
Five Graves to Cairo Plot Summary
What happens in Five Graves to Cairo from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Corporal John Bramble [Franchot Tone] is the sole survivor of a British tank crew after Erwin Rommel [Erich von Stroheim] and his Afrika Korps overrun Tobruk in June 1942 and press the British back into Egypt. He stumbles into the vast North African desert and wanders into the small, sun-baked town of Sidi Halfaya, where he discovers the Empress of Britain, a quiet hotel run by Farid [Akim Tamiroff]. The only other employee is the French chambermaid Mouche [Anne Baxter], since the cook fled with the British and the waiter Davos was killed the night before by German bombing.
Full summary
The whole story of Five Graves to Cairo, scene by scene
Five Graves to Cairo Box Office
Five Graves to Cairo grossed $58 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$58
- International
- $58
Five Graves to Cairo Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Five Graves To Cairo ≣ 1943 ≣ Trailer
How Well Do You Know Five Graves to Cairo?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the rank and name of the British protagonist who survives the tank crew?
Cars in Five Graves to Cairo
10 cars on screen, including the American Car & Foundry M3 'Stuart' and the 1942 Chevrolet G-7107.
-
American Car & Foundry M3 'Stuart' Minor role -
1942 Chevrolet G-7107 Minor role -
Chrysler M3 'Lee' Minor role -
unknown Minor role
Five Graves to Cairo Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Cinco tumbas al Cairo” and “De vijf geheimen van de woestijn”.
- Also known as
-
- Cinco tumbas al Cairo
- De vijf geheimen van de woestijn
- Cinco Covas no Egito
- Ørkenens hemmelighed
- Tie Kairoon
- Les cinq secrets du désert
- Kataskopoi tou Alamein
- Öt lépés Kairó felé
- I cinque segreti del deserto
- Piec grobów na drodze do Kairu
- Vägen till Cairo
- Пять гробниц по пути в Каир
+8 more Show fewer
- Les 5 Secrets du desert
- Fünf Gräber bis Kairo
- Пет гроба по пътя за Кайро
- 开罗谍报战
- 다섯 개의 무덤
- Vägen till Kairo
- 熱砂の秘密
- Cinco Covas no Egipto
Seen Five Graves to Cairo?
Movies Like Five Graves to Cairo
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Five for Hell, 5 Fingers and Tobruk.
Five Graves to Cairo FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Five Graves to Cairo, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Five Graves to Cairo?
Five Graves to Cairo runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was Five Graves to Cairo released?
Five Graves to Cairo was released on May 26, 1943.
Who directed Five Graves to Cairo?
Five Graves to Cairo was directed by Billy Wilder.
More films by Billy Wilder Who is in the cast of Five Graves to Cairo?
Five Graves to Cairo stars Erich von Stroheim as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, Franchot Tone as Cpl. John J. Bramble / Paul Davos and Akim Tamiroff as Farid, among 25 credited actors.
How much did Five Graves to Cairo make at the box office?
Five Graves to Cairo grossed $58 worldwide.
Does Five Graves to Cairo have a post-credit scene?
No. Five Graves to Cairo has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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