The Counterfeit Traitor (1962)

Blacklisted in modern day WW2, a Swedish oil trader opts to assist British Allies, by means of infiltrating and surveying Nazi Germany.

Director:

George Seaton

Writers:

Alexander Klein (based on the book by), George Seaton (written for the screen by)

Stars:

William Holden, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Griffith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Holden	...	Eric Erickson
Lilli Palmer	...	Frau Marianne Möllendorf
Hugh Griffith	...	Collins
Carl Raddatz	...	Otto Holtz
Ernst Schröder	...	Baron Gerhard von Oldenburg
Charles Regnier	...	Wilhelm Kortner
Ingrid van Bergen	...	Hulda Windler
Wolfgang Preiss	...	Colonel Nordoff
Werner Peters	...	Bruno Ulrich
Erica Beer	...	Klara Holtz
Stefan Schnabel	...	Gestapo Agent at Funeral
Klaus Kinski	...	Kindler
Erik Schumann	...	Nazi Gunboat Officer (as Erik Schuman)
Poul Reichhardt	...	Fishing Boat Skipper
John Wittig	...	Sven

Storyline

A former American citizen, now living in Sweden, is blackmailed into spying for the Allies during World War II. Reluctant at first, his relationship with a beautiful German agent causes him to realize how important his work is. When he learns that his German friends have been/are being found out, he puts his own life in danger to go back inside Nazi Germany to finish his work and try to save his friends. It's an exciting story with great characters, filmed partly in the locations where the story took place.

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Plot Keywords:

woman shot | dominatrix | spy | dead woman on ground | firing squad | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Danish German

Release Date:

2 July 1962 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

Verrat auf Befehl

Filming Locations:

Copenhagen, Denmark

Company Credits

Production Co:

Perlsea Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the Copenhagen street scenes of Danish bicyclists blocking the Gestapo truck pursuing Erickson and the underground leaders, a blue-and-white late '50s car can briefly be seen in the background in one shot.

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Quotes

Eric Erickson: When other people hate you it's unfortunate. But when you hate yourself, it's unbearable.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits classify the cast members by country.

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Soundtracks

"Marianna"
Music by Alfred Newman
Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster

User Reviews

Be patient.

The beginning-the first third overall-is rather tedious ,with too much voice-over.No interesting character emerges and it essentially consists of William Holden's shuttling back and forth between Suede and Germany. One feels like calling it a day but wait....

The second third makes Lilli Palmer's character the center of the plot:a very interesting one,this German wealthy woman who betrays her country because of her Christian belief.This spy is not a routine femme fatale but a human being,who is smitten with remorse because the bombing which her informations allowed led to children's death.She has wonderful lines:"in a war,every victim becomes a brother".Two marvelous scenes:the first one ,probably the strongest in the whole movie,shows Palmer in a confessional,telling her sins to a man she thinks is a priest;the second one,she's to be shot in a jail,while Holden desperately tries,behind his bars, to say a last goodbye to her.Lilli Palmer's performance is moving,responsible and sensitive.

By the third part,no more Palmer,but the movie has hit its stride.Holden's return to Suede becomes an odyssey,with a lot of traps and his character has grown wiser and more human.He's able to show some compassion,probably the woman's influence.One of the most intriguing characters plays a small part now:a young boy,about 12,member of the Hitlerian Youth,proud of his uniform,he will make your hair stand on end.At the end of the movie,Holden has completely understood Palmer's line about the victims/brothers as the scene with Klaus Kinski testifies.

George Seaton has made an entertaining movie,which does not forget to ask questions and to moot responsibility.He does flay the nazi horrors,but he also puts the blame on the English agents ,stuffing themselves with lobster and sipping Champagne,while other people die unnoticed ,simply because the victims are their brothers.