Tuesday, October 14, 2025

Five Graves to Cairo

For his second movie, Billy Wilder made a hard turn away from fluffy comedy and set his sights not only on the action genre, but also on the burgeoning war occurring across the ocean. His sophomore effort may not be as well-known as his later works, but it's a critical entry in his career--and it's also one of Quentin Tarantino's favorite movies! We're upping our Patreon in a major way for Season 2, so be sure to join today! Patreon.com/TheFilmographersPodcast Social media Instagram @thefilmographers Bluesky @thefilmographers.bsky.social Letterboxd @filmographers Website https://filmographerspodcast.com/ Credits Keir Graff & Michael Moreci, hosts Kevin Lau and Luke Boyce, producers Gompson, theme music Cosmo Graff, graphic design Time Stamps :10 - “You’re only as good as your next picture” 3:22 - Has anyone seen Five Grave To Cairo? 5:01 - Quentin Tarantino likes it! 13:52 - Based on a play—and not for the first time 22:50 - Von Stroheim brings the presence 25:13 - A summary of Five Graves To Cairo 28:30 - Keir’s review 33:50 - Mike’s review 38:02 - Wilder’s underestimated as a director 49:54 - Did critics like it? 51:16 - Why is Five Graves To Cairo forgotten? 58:50 - An influence on Indiana Jones? 1:12:44 - The Filmographers Five! 1:13:05 - Sleuth 1:13:42 - Noises Off! 1:14:27 - A Few Good Men 1:15:05 - Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 1:15:57 - A Streetcar Named Desire 1:18:12 - Wrap-up