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

When Erickson goes to the "red light" district in Hamburg to make his contact with the underground, the street is ablaze with light from the windows and street lamps, something that would never have been seen in wartime, when blackout precautions were rigidly imposed - particularly in a city like Hamburg, which was a routine and consistent target of Allied bombers.

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Quotes

Eric Erickson: My conscience has always been like a well trained dog. You could tell it to go sit in a corner and be quiet and it would. Since I've known you it hasn't been quite so obedient. It keeps shouting for me to do the very thing that your conscience won't permit.

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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

The Counterfeit Traitor - One of the Greats

Wanted to set the record straight on 1 of the reviewer's retelling of one of the most important scenes. I call this scene the epiphanny scene, because William Holden's entire perspective changes after hearing Lilli Palmer's reasons why she has become a spy (Palmer)"He (Hitler) is the anti-Christ and I am a Christian". (Holden): But your religion also tells you to love your enemy!" (Palmer): I said I was a Christian, not a saint!. .... (Palmer again)"You businessmen are all alike, thinking this war is one grand chess match. Try to think of it as one small truck going off to a concentration camp and those who are shivering inside." (Holden) "I feel for those people" (Palmer)"Yes, but not WITH them, that's the difference. But someday you might. You'll see a man, a complete stranger being bullied and beaten and in that instant, he'll become your brother" (Holden)" I don't know if you are wise or just foolish, but your husband, (who cheated on her) must be an idiot"