Night of the Fox

Night of the Fox

Year: 1990

Runtime: 188 mins

Language: English

Director: Charles Jarrott

DramaAdventure

Set on the eve of the secret D‑Day invasion, U.S. Colonel Hugh Kelso washes ashore behind enemy lines, carrying vital intelligence. Allied agents Harry Martineau and Sara Drayton must mount a covert rescue—choosing to save or kill him before the Germans obtain his knowledge. They are aided by an Italian navy officer and a Jewish actor who now serves as a German paratrooper, leading to a daring mission filled with danger, intrigue and a shocking twist.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Night of the Fox (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Night of the Fox (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II, 1944-1945

The film is set amid the closing years of World War II, when Allied deception and resistance activities intensified. It centers on SOE operations, forged documents, and secret movements behind enemy lines. The narrative threads through post-Slapton Sands events and the buildup to potential D-Day consequences, reflecting the high-stakes atmosphere of late-war Europe.

Location

Jersey (Channel Islands), Occupied France, England, Essex Marshes

The story unfolds primarily on Jersey, one of the Channel Islands, during the later years of World War II. The island is depicted as a fortress-like setting under German occupation, with coastlines and airfields shaping the covert operations. Action shifts from Jersey to occupied France and thence to Britain, using the island as a tense crossroads for espionage and escape routes. The Essex marshes become the final resting place for one of the central heroes.

🗺️ Channel Islands ⚔️ War-time 🧭 Occupation

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:54

Main Characters – Night of the Fox (1990)

Meet the key characters of Night of the Fox (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Brig. Dougal Munro (John Mills)

A hard-edged SOE commander who orchestrates the rescue operation and leverages his authority to push the mission forward. He evaluates risk, manipulates circumstances, and tests loyalties as the plan unfolds. His presence anchors the strategic, high-stakes nature of wartime deception in Jersey.

🗺️ Strategic 🛡️ Leadership 🗡️ Calculating

Captain Guido Orsini (Andrea Occhipinti)

An Italian naval officer who commands the cargo vessel and becomes a crucial ally in moving people and supplies. He provides a practical, maritime perspective to the operation and supports the crew’s escape to Britain. His involvement bridges military mission and civilian risk.

⚓ Naval 🤝 Ally 🌊 Sea voyage

Hélène de Ville (Andréa Ferréol)

A local contact who contacts London and supplies critical information about Jersey. She aids Kelso and facilitates connections that help the protagonists move across occupied territory. Her knowledge of the island and its networks proves essential to the mission.

🗺️ Local networks 🧭 Coordination

Field Marshal Erwin Rommel / Caporal Berger (Michael York)

Rommel is actually a double—Caporal Berger—used as part of the ruse to mislead enemy observers. His disguise and planned withdrawal from Germany are central to the deception surrounding the German command. The real Rommel’s involvement in a plot against Hitler adds a layer of complexity to the operation.

🕵️‍♂️ Identity 🛡️ Deception

Col. Harry Martineau / Max Vogel (George Peppard)

A former academic turned ruthless operative who assumes a new identity to conduct covert missions. Recruited for the operation, he embodies the fusion of scholarly detachment and lethal efficiency. His dual life tests loyalty and reveals the moral ambiguities of wartime espionage.

🧠 Intelligence 🗡️ Dual life

Alan Stacey (John Standing)

A biographer visiting Jersey who reconstructs the past and serves as the film’s framing device. He witnesses revelations about the wartime activities, tying the present to the past. His perspective anchors the story’s reflective mood and provides a window into the characters’ histories.

📚 Writer 🧭 Investigative

Sara Drayton (Deborah Raffin)

A nurse with deep local ties who adopts an undercover role to support the mission. Her cover as Anne-Marie de la Tour helps conceal the operation and build trust with others. She remains a central figure in the network of resistance and alliance.

🧬 Cover identity 🤝 Ally

Hugh Kelso (David Birney)

A US Army colonel who holds crucial knowledge about the D-Day plans. His rescue becomes a linchpin of the mission, and his survival is a measure of the operation’s success. His presence heightens the stakes for everyone involved.

🎖️ Military 🧭 Strategic

Greiser (Vincent Grass)

A German officer encountered in the occupied setting. His presence underscores the occupation’s authority and the constant tension between German control and Allied covert efforts. He represents the formal German side of the conflict surrounding the operation.

⚔️ German Officer 🧭 Occupation

Hofer (Gottfried John)

A German soldier featured in the occupation milieu. His role exemplifies the occupying forces and their interactions with resistance operatives. He contributes to the film’s atmosphere of danger and surveillance.

🪖 Occupation ⚔️ Military presence

Muller (Amadeus August)

A German-associated character within the occupied setting. He participates in the environment of occupation and military operations that frame the mission’s challenges. His role adds to the web of wartime complexity.

🪖 Occupation ⚔️ Military

Mary Vibert (Kim Weeks)

A character involved in the Jersey milieu, contributing to the social fabric around the covert operation. Her involvement helps illustrate the civilian front of wartime networks. Her presence adds texture to the island’s occupied society.

🧭 Civilian networks 🕊️ Local life

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:54

Major Themes – Night of the Fox (1990)

Explore the central themes of Night of the Fox (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️‍♂️ Espionage

Clandestine operations drive the plot, with forged papers, undercover roles, and carefully staged identities. The characters rely on misdirection, improvised alliances, and covert meetings to outmaneuver a better-armed enemy. The tension stems from balancing loyalty with the ever-present risk of betrayal in a web of deception. The narrative treats information as the pivotal weapon in a landscape of occupation and counter-mission.

🎭 Identity

Multiple identities drive the drama: Harry Martineau becomes Max Vogel, while Sarah Drayton operates under the alias Anne-Marie de la Tour. Rommel’s supposed presence is exploited through a double, and allies like Orsini become essential links. The film examines how drawing on disguises and personas shapes choices under pressure and determines who can be trusted. Identity is as much a weapon as any gun or plan.

🎖️ Sacrifice

The mission hinges on risking lives, with Baum sacrificing himself to advance the plan and ensure others reach safety. The narrative acknowledges the price of clandestine warfare, where even successful evasion can yield tragic outcomes. Baum’s dying plea for Kaddish and the belated burial of Harry emphasize the human cost behind wartime heroics. Sacrifice threads through personal loyalties and professional duties alike.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:54

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Bittersweet Wartime Missions like in Night of the Fox

Covert operations that succeed at a high personal cost to the heroes.If you liked the covert rescue mission in Night of the Fox that ended with a sense of loss, explore more movies like it. These stories feature successful wartime or espionage operations with a bittersweet emotional core, where the mission's cost is deeply felt by the characters.

urgentsomberclandestinedangerousmelancholicsuspenseful

Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a clear mission objective—rescue, sabotage, or intelligence gathering—driven by urgency and danger. The plot is linear and action-oriented, but the emotional journey culminates in a victory that is tempered by the death of allies or a sobering reflection on the human cost of conflict.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared combination of a tense, fast-paced mission structure and a poignant, bittersweet conclusion. They balance action and suspense with a sobering emotional weight, creating a specific viewing experience where triumph is never pure.

Race Against Time Thrillers like Night of the Fox

High-stakes stories where a ticking clock drives every tense decision.Fans of the urgent D-Day rescue plot in Night of the Fox will enjoy these similar high-tension thrillers. Discover movies with fast-paced narratives, looming deadlines, and constant danger, where every second counts and failure is not an option.

urgentsuspensefulanxiousdangeroushigh-stakesclandestine

Narrative Summary

The core pattern is a clear, critical objective that must be achieved before a specific, impending event. The plot is a series of escalating obstacles and narrow escapes, with pacing that rarely lets up. This structure creates sustained tension and a feeling of anxious immediacy for the viewer.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their fast pacing, high intensity, and a narrative engine powered by a deadline. They share a tense, anxious mood that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, regardless of the specific setting or genre.

Unlock the Full Story of Night of the Fox

Don't stop at just watching — explore Night of the Fox in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Night of the Fox is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Night of the Fox Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Night of the Fox, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Night of the Fox Summary

Night of the Fox Timeline

Track the full timeline of Night of the Fox with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Night of the Fox Timeline

Night of the Fox Spoiler-Free Summary

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Night of the Fox Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Night of the Fox

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Night of the Fox: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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