Carlsberg beer originates from Copenhagen in Denmark which was occupied by the Germans in WW2. Carlsberg didn't have any breweries outwith Denmark till 1968.
So would Carlsberg beer have been available in Alexandria in 1942? Why didn't they use a British beer?
Colin
Short answer. No. I have that 1950's gold rimmed Carlsberg glass and I fill it with chilled Carlsberg each time I watch the movie ending (I actually race Mills LOL). But I know the beer back then wasn't Carlsberg. Damnit I can't recall what beer it was (I read the book years ago and I thought it said RHINEGOLD). Yes, I'm pretty sure Rhinegold was the beer mentioned.
Incidentally, I have a large glossy black and white photo of that bar scene, with Anson looking at his glass of beer and Murdoch, Van Der Poel/Otto Lutz and MSM Pugh watching on. It's me pride and joy. Especially as it has all four of their autographs.
Thank you for clearing that up for everyone. It's been bugging me a bit.
I noticed that they also drank Carlsberg in The Colditz Story. Which made more sense, I guess.
But the glasses were clearly maked Carlsberg - I watched the movie last night. I didn't take any notice of the label on the beer bottle though.
Early examples of 'product placement'?
The film was made in 1958, 16 years after the year the film was set.
shareStella was the main beer at the time brewed in Egypt, drunk by The Desert Rats in vast amounts.
shareIn the book, the beer was called "Rhinegold" - still available today... However in 1958 the war was still fresh in the minds of most people so they switched the beer to Carlsburg.
shareInterestingly enough, though you couldn't get it in Egypt in the 40s it quite often now the only beer available in any amounts and at a reasonable cost in most central African countries. In Malawi for instance the closest rival (discounting the local brew made of corn which tastes like piss)is 4 time dearer, because it's imported while Carlsberg have a brewery in the country.
shareIn the book, the beer was called "Rhinegold" - still available today... However in 1958 the war was still fresh in the minds of most people so they switched the beer to Carlsburg.
. . . just because the name "Rheingold" (that's the correct spelling, both in real life and in the book) sounded German even though the beer was made in New York.
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Lazy + smart = efficient.
Stella was the main beer at the time brewed in Egypt, drunk by The Desert Rats in vast amounts.
Egyptian Stella's not a bad drink! Although one in every so often is usually "bad".
shareCrikey! That takes me back a few years "Stella local" or "local stella".
Nice pint actually and after a hot day at work or out for a jog or working late, it went down an absolute treat.
After a few years in the Navy travelling the globe, I ended up as a strawberry back in Cairo for a month. A month there seemed like an eternity. I didn't want to come home.
I absolutely love that film. It is so brilliantly shot. Something we forget is that the cameramen/Soundmen and support staff's men and women of their day worked long hard days and probably never got the full acknowledgment they deserved.
I begged on Freecyle for this movie which had been given away as a Mail on Sunday disk or something of that ilk. I got it. Drove about 20 miles to go and pick it up and to me it typifies what this country used to represent.
At the end, LT Anson doesn't want to shoot the spy in the camp, rather, he knows how it feels. Many of you reading this will be ex forces or know someone who was in the forces, be it reserve forces or enlisted. We know how it feels. That's why we support our forces, past and present, every year, faithfully.
I take my hat off to Sir John and to the man who wished Slyvia's buttons were a bit looser. I remember the female PSO interview I got in the RN. To test if you were gay, she DID unbutton her top. LOW!
Yours Aye.
Jock M!
It might have been me with the button comment. I read somewhere that they had to reshoot Sylvia Sims' scenes because her cleavage offended some people. Bastards.
That large glossy photo you mentioned above sounds brilliant (especially with the signitares)
Would look to see a picture of it if you can put it online someone?
Cheers,
G
www.gfunkera.co.uk
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Its probably an early case of product placement and not the only example either.
I`ve just been watching `The Colditz Story` again and noticed that in a scene where John Mills hides in a room which is supposed to house a bar for the POW`s after the Germans have just emptied it, two crates with "Carlsberg Copenhagen" witten on them are clearly visible.
Not only that but there is a Carlsberg bottle placed neatly on the bar with the lable pointing directly towards the camera.
"Any plan that involves losing your hat is a BAD plan.""
Artistic License.
share