The Counterfeit Traitor

Rating:
Summary: Real War
Review: A much-ignored WWII gem, one that has stayed with me since grade school, "The Counterfeit Traitor" is one of the best told true-life stories of all. William Holden, as Eric Erickson the compromised Swedish industrialist, gets snared by the Allies to spy in and out of wartime Berlin. George Seaton's direction plays this exciting intrigue against a business(capitalism) backdrop most effectively. Tension runs between betrayal and capture in 3 countries, building to a powerful climax, only so due to masterful dialogue. Take note, there is very little time spent on graphic violence, yet nailbiting tension pervades. As a viewer, you will find a bonanza in character actors like Hugh Griffith and the budding Klaus Kinski in a powerful cameo. How this true tale gets told in a little over 2 hours is amazing. I suspect the reason this film has not be re-made goes against claims that war is not business;Exciting, dirty business with shades of gray, heroes and villains on both sides. When words and images drive storyline it clashes with today's studio heads.
50 years removed from the war, true personal heroics are trinkling into public print, but "Counterfeit Traitor" was the first inkling that heroes do show up when evil lurks.

Rating:
Summary: Worthy of Hitchcock and based on a true story to boot
Review: A taunt political thriller that could just as easily been directed by Alfred Hitchcock (although it's missing many of Hitch's themes), "The Counterfeit Traitor" based on a true story focuses on a US born and raised naturalized Swede named Eric Erickson who is blackmailed by the British into becoming a spy for them. Erickson works as an oil broker trading with both the Allied and Axis powers as Sweden was neutral during the war. Erickson asks the agent blackmailing him "how does one become so cold blooded?" The agent replies, "watching Germans bomb London helps enormously." The British release a black list of those trading with the Germans and Erickson's name is on it. The only way to get it off is if he works for the British.
Erickson reluctantly agrees to work undercover for the British and a door to danger opens that imperils his life and a woman he cares for (Lili Palmer).

A powerful well made film that has taken too long to show up on DVD, "The Counterfeit Traitor" features a strong, cynical performance by William Holden (I'm surprised he never appeared in a Hitchcock film given his demeanor) and an international cast of impressive supporting actors. Although "The Counterfeit Traitor" remains a perfect thriller and George Seaton's strong direction makes it worthwhile, I'm surprised that no studio has decided to remake this marvelous film.

Although the Technicolor images looks exceptional vivid, there's considerable analog defects that crop up in this transfer. It's not a problem with the transfer itself but of the source material. Clearly the original negative has a number of defects however I'm surprised that Paramount didn't clean this up just a bit more prior to release. There's not a huge amount of them but they do crop up throughout the movie. Still, the image looks fairly sharp with solid blacks. The film features a restored mono soundtrack that sounds very good. The 5.1 mix doesn't improve on the original soundtrack significantly as the 5.1 format isn't all that friendly to mono.


Rating:
Summary: An Underrated Gem
Review: An exceptional movie exploring the emotional underbelly of war.
Solid performance by William Holden. However, kudos and honors to Alfred Newman for his exceptional score. In addition, more honors should have beeen bestowed to Lili Palmer who gives a powerful performance as a woman in spiritual conflict. You will be riveted by the climax.


Rating:
Summary: The fog of war
Review: Another brilliant William Holden performance highlights this thinking person's WWII adventure. The screenplay is based on the true-life memoirs of a Swedish businessman who agreed to "pose" as a Nazi sympathizer in order to help locate strategic industrial bombing targets within Gemany for Allied intelligence. The movie eschews the "Where Eagles Dare" approach and opts for a more realistic, soul-searching examination of how human beings, regardless of what "side" they are on, behave during times of conflict - closer to "All Quiet On The Western Front". The movie does have a fair amount of suspenseful and tense moments, but there is more "inner" conflict going on with Holden's character as he is is forced to challenge his own moral and ethical code the deeper he falls into intrigue. An obvious comparison would be with the namesake character of "Schindler's List"- the initially "neutral" businessman who comes to realize that there are some things worth fighting for, personal consequences be damned. There is a moment at the end of "Counterfeit Traitor" where someone notices Holden is wearing a black armband, and asks him who it is for. Holden pauses a beat, and then says "It is for...so many." It is one of the most beautifully played and moving codas I have ever seen in a war film, and a subtle tribute to all the people who lost thier lives in WWII. DVD notes: Paramount has done a decent transfer, aside from some washed out colors in a few scenes, the widescreen print is crisp. The audio is excellent. No extras, but kudos to the studio for releasing this hard to find gem!

Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced intrigue that makes you think.
Review: Even though William Holden's box office popularity had waned by this time in his career, his acting skills were never better than in his portrayal of an American-born Swedish citizen pressured into working for the Allies in WWII. A well-written script with interesting characters brought to life by a superior international cast (Hugh Griffith, Wolfgang Preiss, Klaus Kinski, Ulf Palme to name just a few). Besides Holden, Lili Palmer is a stand out as one of his German contacts, a conflicted Catholic who understands the greater good of what she has been doing but, as the bombs start falling, is tormented by the knowledge that the information she passes on can, and does, bring death and destruction to noncombatants, especially children. Lots of interesting faces and touches: a Hamburg dominatrix (complete with whip), the great face of the old stationmaster, the confounding of the tracking dogs with a blood and cocaine mix, the Danish citizenry openly defying the Nazis, the son-from-hell, and did anyone else notice the menorah in Gestapo Colonel Nordoff's (Preiss, fine here, once again) office? My only complaint is the quality of the VHS. This film recently aired on AMC and it was considerably crisper than my VHS. A DVD from the cleaned-up print would be most welcome. Regardless of the format, this is a movie not to be missed.

Rating:
Summary: WWII SpyThriller masterpiece!
Review: I never tire of watching this great WWII spy/romance film. In my opinion, it is the single greatest World War II spy film ever made. It truly captures the danger, uneasiness, and on-the-edge drama of the life of a spy. William Holden is brilliant as Eric Erickson, the reluctant spy, and his story totally captivates us. It makes one wonder how many other stories like this one occurred during the war. The scene where the character of Hans Holtz (young Nazi boy who wants to turn Erickson in to the authorities) is truly riveting. When the film is over you wish there were more. If anyone can tell me the titles of any similar films, I would appreciate it. William Holden has to be the greatest actor of his generation!

Rating:
Summary: Exceptional, underrated war drama
Review: I was reluctant to buy this movie at first, having read only one review of it, which was positive. It has a running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the movie description didn't tell me enough.

I was glad I bought it, and watched it, for it is one of the finest William Holden performances I've seen, and it is one of the most suspenseful movies, war or otherwise, I have seen.


This is not a standard war movie; it is not filled with combat, tanks, and glorious battle scenes. Instead, it is a compelling espionage yarn that is based on true events. At times the suspense is unbearable as William Holden's charcter faces capture by the German gestapo time and again. The ending is truly satisfying and inspiring.


While the movie starts a little slow, it gears up and grabs you by the throat, heart, and the pit of your stomach. The standard war movie romance is not standard after all, as you will find out. All the actors are wonderful, but William Holden stands out. I understand at the time he made this movie he had not had a hit in some time. He redeems himself marvelously in this film. His character is multi-layered and wholly human, at first self-serving, then later serving the greater cause.


A combination spy/war thriller, you will find yourself rivited to the screen and the over two hour run time will fly by. I'm keeping my copy for future viewings, and sharing with my friends and family. You will not be disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best
Review: I will never forget the first time I saw this movie. I ended up watching it from start to finish. That's how good it is. There are so many scenes in there that are so riveting, you cannot help but enjoy the film. From when he makes those statements about Nazism, and his Jewish friend, though shocked, took a back seat and let him be. Or the little Nazi boy who is the son of his German connection, want to tell the authorities about him at his own father's funeral. What a trip. I will truly keep you glued to your seat. Also his collaboration with Lilli Palmer is good. It will really make you wonder whether or not one will stand in the face of danger. It really makes you think. This is one of the best WW2 films out there

Rating:
Summary: Holden's brilliant portrayal of World War II espionage.
Review: It is terrific that this wonderful film is now available on DVD. This is a gripping story of international espionage circa 1940-44. Based upon a true story, William Holden turns in his customary stellar performance as a Swedish petroleum industrialist (of American deriviation--he had renounced his American citizenship, married in Sweden and become a Swedish subject) who is initially blackmailed by Allied intelligence to spy for the British and Americans. Since Sweden is neutral, and Holden has extensive business connections in Nazi Germany, he is ideally suited to travel about Germany and locate targets for allied bombers.

The development of Holden's character is superb, and the viewer truly gets a sense of what it might have been like to be a secret agent of this sort during the war. Holden functions by blackmail and bribery, and the film does a fine job of not glossing over these basic components of spycraft. The story develops methodically. While initially Holden is a reluctant, even unwilling spy, eventually what he sees of German methods and brutality converts him into an enthusiastic allied agent. The same is true of some of those whom Holden has bribed or blackmailed into cooperating with his activities.

The cinamatography of the film is excellent, with European locales giving an authentic air to the film. While I often dislike it when there is a narrative that overlays a movie, in this film it is done very well, and adds a great deal to the story. The storyline moves at a brisk but thoughtful pace, never drags, and this film tells a great story.

This is one not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a good spy flick. Highly recommended.



Rating:
Summary: Should be better known
Review: Little-known, underappreciated film, based on the true story of a man forced by the Allies into spying on the Nazis. It's one of William Holden's better performances. The movie does quite a good job of creating anxiety in the viewer.