Before Winter Comes

Before Winter Comes
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	J. Lee Thompson
Produced by	Robert Emmett Ginna
Written by	Andrew Sinclair (screenplay) Frederick L. Keefe (story)
Starring	David Niven Topol Anna Karina
Music by	Ron Grainer
Cinematography	Gilbert Taylor
Edited by	Willy Kemplen
Production company	Windward
Distributed by	Columbia Pictures
Release date	January 1969 (London) March 24, 1969 (New York)
Running time	107 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Before Winter Comes is a 1969 British film directed by J. Lee Thompson from a screenplay by Andrew Sinclair.

Before Winter Comes takes place in the immediate aftermath of World War II. British Major Giles Burnside (David Niven) is assigned to an Austrian refugee camp; his mission is to send the groups of displaced civilians to either the Russian or the American zone. Burnside is a by-the-books commander but runs into trouble with the intertranslations of many different languages. However, of the refugees, Janovic (Topol) is willing to help as he can speak many languages. Janovic quickly conveys Burnsides's orders and helps the way station run smoothly. Janovic runs into romance with a lovely innkeeper, Maria (Anna Karina). But his love with her stops when he discovers her affair with Burnside. Meanwhile, Janovic is found to be a Russian deserter, and must be returned to the Russian mainland to be executed. Burnside offers to help him escape, but Janovic can't decide whether to trust his commander.