Were these films actually available in Germany during the time represented in "Bridge of Spies"?
As Bridge of Spies builds toward its climax, there is a scene in front of a Berlin 'cineplex' which is showing four films (titles translated to English)...
- One, Two, Three
- Spartacus
- The Damned (actually "Village of the Damned")
- The Secret of the Black Box (imdb info here)
Is it conceivable that these films would have been in theatrical release with German subtitles or dubbing at the time the negotiations depicted in the film were being conducted? Most of the 'historically correct' "Bridge of Spies" takes place in 1960/1961, but the director used artistic license to include events from 1962.
Afterthought: Were cineplex establishments a common feature in European cities in 1961?
Best Answer
You've caught an error.
The first three were available at the time. Imdb lists release dates in West Germany as:
One, Two, Three Dec 18, 1961
Spartacus Dec. 16, 1960
Village of the Dammed Feb. 3, 1961
But if the date of Feb. 10, 1962 given by Catija is correct, the last film, The Secret of the Black Box was not released until Feb. 23, 1962, 13 days after the exchange.
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