Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    EmmysSuperheroes GuideSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideBest Of 2025 So FarDisability Pride MonthSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
8 suggestions available
Watchlist
Sign in
Sign in
New customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Playing for Time

  • TV Movie
  • 1980
  • 2h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Playing for Time (1980)
DramaMusic

Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.Female prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp (Auschwitz) are spared from death in return for performing music for their captors.

  • Directors
    • Daniel Mann
    • Joseph Sargent
  • Writers
    • Arthur Miller
    • Fania Fénelon
  • Stars
    • Vanessa Redgrave
    • Jane Alexander
    • Maud Adams
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Daniel Mann
      • Joseph Sargent
    • Writers
      • Arthur Miller
      • Fania Fénelon
    • Stars
      • Vanessa Redgrave
      • Jane Alexander
      • Maud Adams
    • 39User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 5 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos14

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 8
    View Poster

    Top cast49

    Edit
    Vanessa Redgrave
    Vanessa Redgrave
    • Fania Fenelon
    Jane Alexander
    Jane Alexander
    • Alma Rose
    Maud Adams
    Maud Adams
    • Mala
    Christine Baranski
    Christine Baranski
    • Olga
    Robin Bartlett
    Robin Bartlett
    • Etalina
    Marisa Berenson
    Marisa Berenson
    • Elzvieta
    Verna Bloom
    Verna Bloom
    • Paulette
    Donna Haley
    • Katrina
    Lenore Harris
    • Charlotte
    Mady Kaplan
    Mady Kaplan
    • Varya
    Will Lee
    Will Lee
    • Shmuel
    Anna Thomson
    Anna Thomson
    • Michou
    • (as Anna Kluger Levine)
    Viveca Lindfors
    Viveca Lindfors
    • Frau Schmidt
    Melanie Mayron
    Melanie Mayron
    • Marianne
    Marcell Rosenblatt
    • Giselle
    Max Wright
    Max Wright
    • Dr. Mengele
    Shirley Knight
    Shirley Knight
    • Lagerführerin Maria Mandel
    Elaine Bromka
    Elaine Bromka
    • Tchiakowska
    • Directors
      • Daniel Mann
      • Joseph Sargent
    • Writers
      • Arthur Miller
      • Fania Fénelon
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews39

    7.32.9K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    pluisa

    Multiple perspectives

    The script pointedly shows many different perspectives of the victims of the German Nazi's holocaust: Communists, Zionists, homosexuals, artists, Germans, Poles, others - and how they perceive what is happening to them. Also the horror for these individuals to survive day after day while others are killed around them. And the struggle to retain a sense of being human. Wonderfully written. Hard to watch for sure. A must-see.
    freebird-9

    very moving human drama

    This moving human Drama is one of the most touching movies I have ever seen.

    Vanessa Redgrave is superb and strong as Fania Fénelon, a jewish singer from

    France ending up in Auschwitz, and makes the role of her life.

    I would say it is as important and grand as 'Schindler's List' and 'The Pianist', about the horrors of the Holocaust.

    So, why is this not available on video? I've been trying for years to get hold of a copy of this moving drama.. and nobody seems to know who's holding the

    copyright... It's really a shame that this classic is not available on dvd!!
    10dewey22

    Perhaps the best ever movie that has been unrecognized.

    I was more impressed by Vanessa Redgrave's performance than any female performance , in any medium. As a musician prisoner in a Nazi death camp, she exceeded any of her other brilliant performances. Aside from Vanessa, the movie should not be missed and hopefully released again.
    10rondine

    One of the best movies I've ever seen about the struggle for humanity.

    This is a wonderful, powerful and very moving picture. This is one of the best WWII films surrounding the victims of the Holocaust. The dialog and acting throughout is superb! I too am aware that the Jewish Defense League didn't want Vanessa Redgrave playing the main character for political reasons. There should be NO politics in acting, just the right actors for the right roles. Ms. Redgrave is definately the right person for the role. I don't know all about her personal politics and don't care when it comes to seeing a movie like this one. Her commitment to this role is absolutely mesmerizing. I even heard that in addition to shaving her head for the role, she used a safety pin to injure her lip instead of just letting the makeup people fake something. She bares her soul in a way that few actors can. Jane Alexander is also very worthy as the Director of the orchestra that Fania(Redgrave) is a part of. If you get a chance to see this on tv, don't miss it. I am fortunate to have taped it when it originally aired. Some video stores may also have a copy. Remembering the past is a way to make sure it is never repeated- if you see this movie, it will be one more vivid memory of why we should never forget.
    9hooshi

    The best TV production ever.

    Firstly I have to say that this is not your usual stereotype Jewish holocaust movie: It goes much, much beyond any ideological rhetoric, to deal with Human condition.However, you have the Concentration Camp as a background for one of the best contemporary playwrights (arguably The best!) to create and develop his masterpiece .It is worthwhile to know that Arthur Miller persisted in his demand to put Venessa Redgrave in the the leading role, in spite of all the threats and protests of JDL.Here, she presents one of her most magnificent performances as an Artist trapped in the most dehumanizing conditions one could imagine.The dialogue is absolutely superb, and the actings are quite decent.A must see.

    More like this

    Naked Among Wolves
    7.2
    Naked Among Wolves
    The Grey Zone
    7.0
    The Grey Zone
    Triumph of the Spirit
    6.8
    Triumph of the Spirit
    Out of the Ashes
    6.7
    Out of the Ashes
    Two Champions of Death
    6.3
    Two Champions of Death
    The Baltimore Bullet
    5.9
    The Baltimore Bullet
    A Midsummer Night's Dream
    7.8
    A Midsummer Night's Dream
    A Generation
    7.1
    A Generation
    The Island on Bird Street
    7.1
    The Island on Bird Street
    The Bunker
    6.9
    The Bunker
    Lovesick
    5.2
    Lovesick
    A Woman in Berlin
    7.0
    A Woman in Berlin

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The real Fania Fenelon was upset over the casting of Dame Vanessa Redgrave due to her support of the Palestine Liberation Organization.
    • Goofs
      Upon joining the camp orchestra, Fania Fenelon (Vanessa Redgrave) is asked by the women's commandant for her shoe size. Fenelon replies with the American shoe size "9", whereas in reality she would have given the European equivalent size of 40.
    • Quotes

      Alma Rose: We must constantly raise the level of our playing, or I really don't know how long they will tolerate us.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      J'Attendrai
      (Tornerai)

      Music by Dino Olivieri

      Italian lyrics by Nino Rastelli

      French lyrics by Louis Poterat

      Performed by Vanessa Redgrave

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 30, 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Spiel um Zeit - Das Mädchenorchester in Auschwitz
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville, Pennsylvania, USA
    • Production company
      • Szygzy Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Playing for Time (1980)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Playing for Time (1980) officially released in Canada in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Poster
    List
    IMDb Summer Watch Guide
    Browse the guide
    Production art
    List
    July 2025 TV and Streaming Premiere Dates
    See the list
    Poster
    List
    Most Popular Indian Movies of 2025 So Far
    See the list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.