We continue to use Netflix as a way to learn more about World War II. Last night it was "The Counterfeit Traitor," a 1962 William Holden movie based on a true story. Eric Erickson (Holden) was the son of Swedish immigrants, born and raised in the U.S. He became a Swedish citizen in the 1930s.
Sweden was neutral during the war and Erickson, an oilman, went back and forth between Scandinavia and the continent transacting business. The movie shows him being forced to become a spy for the Allies or face ruin. His fellow spy is Marianne Möllendorf (Lilli Palmer), a German woman.
It's an interesting film. No rah-rah about the U.S.A. It was filmed on location in Sweden, West Germany and Denmark. The clothes are all wrong, though. What were you thinking, Edith? It was hard to get a feel for being in Germany in 1942 when Lilli Palmer is wearing 1962 styles (including hair) and William Holden looks like the man in the gray flannel suit.
Three impressions linger:
1. Lilli Palmer's character was so strong in her resolve to work against the Nazis -- until she felt deep remorse because some information she shared resulted in a school being hit during a bombing raid. It wasn't worth it to continue and she wanted out. There's only one way out. She discovered for herself what it was like to be at the mercy of the Nazis.
2. The Danish Resistance is something I need to learn more about. After Holden has been exposed as a spy, he is helped back to Sweden by Danes. There is a thrilling moment in the movie where a Gestapo officer recognizes Holden in Copenhagen and he arrests him and his two companions on the street. Passersby realize something is wrong and hundreds of Danes on bicycles interfere. One of those "stand up and cheer" scenes that movies sometimes offer you.
3. The Hitler Youth movement was a master stroke. One of the most terrifying characters in the movie is an 11-year-old boy who is a dedicated member of the movement. He has more nerve than you would believe possible. This lad (an actor named Helo Gutschwager) reminded me of the boy Caligula from "I, Claudius." Except that nothing was funny to him. He was deadly serious in his mission. I noticed a classmate was just mouthing the words of the pledge so I turned him in. Turning people in to the Gestapo was his passion in life. He and William Holden have a battle of wills and just when you think Holden has won, young Hans rebounds.
Part of the Hitler credo, I guess: Warp a child and reap the results.
Sweden was neutral during the war and Erickson, an oilman, went back and forth between Scandinavia and the continent transacting business. The movie shows him being forced to become a spy for the Allies or face ruin. His fellow spy is Marianne Möllendorf (Lilli Palmer), a German woman.
It's an interesting film. No rah-rah about the U.S.A. It was filmed on location in Sweden, West Germany and Denmark. The clothes are all wrong, though. What were you thinking, Edith? It was hard to get a feel for being in Germany in 1942 when Lilli Palmer is wearing 1962 styles (including hair) and William Holden looks like the man in the gray flannel suit.
Three impressions linger:
1. Lilli Palmer's character was so strong in her resolve to work against the Nazis -- until she felt deep remorse because some information she shared resulted in a school being hit during a bombing raid. It wasn't worth it to continue and she wanted out. There's only one way out. She discovered for herself what it was like to be at the mercy of the Nazis.
2. The Danish Resistance is something I need to learn more about. After Holden has been exposed as a spy, he is helped back to Sweden by Danes. There is a thrilling moment in the movie where a Gestapo officer recognizes Holden in Copenhagen and he arrests him and his two companions on the street. Passersby realize something is wrong and hundreds of Danes on bicycles interfere. One of those "stand up and cheer" scenes that movies sometimes offer you.
3. The Hitler Youth movement was a master stroke. One of the most terrifying characters in the movie is an 11-year-old boy who is a dedicated member of the movement. He has more nerve than you would believe possible. This lad (an actor named Helo Gutschwager) reminded me of the boy Caligula from "I, Claudius." Except that nothing was funny to him. He was deadly serious in his mission. I noticed a classmate was just mouthing the words of the pledge so I turned him in. Turning people in to the Gestapo was his passion in life. He and William Holden have a battle of wills and just when you think Holden has won, young Hans rebounds.
Part of the Hitler credo, I guess: Warp a child and reap the results.