The Odessa File (1974)

After reading the diary of an elderly Jewish man who committed suicide, freelance journalist Peter Miller begins to investigate the alleged sighting of a former SS-Captain who commanded a ... See full summary »

Director:

Ronald Neame

Writers:

Frederick Forsyth (novel), Kenneth Ross (screenplay),

Stars:

Jon Voight, Maximilian Schell, Maria Schell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jon Voight	...	Peter Miller
Maximilian Schell	...	Eduard Roschmann
Maria Schell	...	Frau Miller
Mary Tamm	...	Sigi
Derek Jacobi	...	Klaus Wenzer
Peter Jeffrey	...	David Porath
Klaus Löwitsch	...	Gustav Mackensen
Kurt Meisel	...	Alfred Oster
Hannes Messemer	...	General Glücks
Garfield Morgan	...	Israeli General
Shmuel Rodensky	...	Simon Wiesenthal (as Schmuel Rodensky)
Ernst Schröder	...	Werner Deilman
Günter Strack	...	Kunik (as Gunter Strack)
Noel Willman	...	Franz Bayer
Martin Brandt	...	Marx

Storyline

After reading the diary of an elderly Jewish man who committed suicide, freelance journalist Peter Miller begins to investigate the alleged sighting of a former SS-Captain who commanded a concentration camp during World War II. Miller eventually finds himself involved with the powerful organization of former SS members, called ODESSA, as well as with the Israeli secret service. Miller probes deeper and eventually discovers a link between the SS-Captain, ODESSA, and his own family.

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Plot Keywords:

diary | ss | suicide | concentration camp | journalist | 

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Taglines:

The movie will startle you!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK West Germany

Language:

English German

Release Date:

18 October 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Akta Odessy

Filming Locations:

Alter Elbtunnel, St. Pauli, Hamburg-Mitte, Hamburg, Germany

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Domino Productions, Oceanic Filmproduktion GmbH

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) Black and White (flashback scenes)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scottish band Trashcan Sinatras released a cover of Perry Como's recording of "Christmas Dream" which was made available as a free download on their official website.

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Goofs

The automobiles driving down the street outside the elderly-pension office (around the 25 minute point) are clearly the type of cars typical of the mid-1970's, even though the scene was set in November or December 1963.

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Quotes

[Miller is trying to sell his editor a story based on the diary]
Hoffmann: No one wants to read about Jews.
Peter Miller: They were GERMANS!
Hoffmann: They were German Jews.

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Connections

Referenced in The First Nudie Musical (1976)

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Soundtracks

"Christmas Dream"
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Lyrics by Tim Rice and André Heller (as Andre Heller)
Sung by Perry Como

User Reviews

Intriguing and tense movie full of suspense from the beginning to the end

Good and exciting film plenty of tension , action and entertainment . This intelligent picture is packed with historic events , tension , hectic intrigue and the suspense is maintained throughout . The deeds of the movie start in Hamburg, 1963 . An elderly Jewish commits suicide , leaving a newspaper that falls into the hands of an attractive and intrepid journalist named Peter Miller (John Voight). The German Peter goes to a Nazi convention celebrating the ¨Division Siegfried¨ where is detained. After that, he discovers a secret organization named Odessa that may expose some former Nazis and the unthinkable crimes of cruelty , torture and mass murder carried out by the captain of the SS Eduard Roschmann , commandant of the notorious extermination camp in Riga (Latvia). It seems that Roschmann (Maximiliam Schell) survived the defeat of the Nazis, and that lives in some place of South America under a fake identity . Miller starts then a relentless pursuit , decided to meet him . The journalist isn't alone, as he collaborates with the famous Nazis hunter Simon Wiesenthal ; in addition to receive precious aid by the Secret Service agents (Peter Jeffreys) of Israel , the Mossad , that try to avoid some rockets full of biological virus to be taken by Nasser , President of Egypt .

Excellent film based on one the first successes of famous novelist Frederick Forsyth , a bestselling author . This stirring picture is full of suspense , tension , thrills and is very entertaining . The film's intrigue snowballs toward an exciting final. Extraordinary casting , all of whom give admirable acting as starring Jon Voight ("Midnight Cowboy") who plays perfectly as dynamic journalist ; brilliant the British Derek Jacobi , the German Klaus Lowitsch , and of course the Maximilian Schell's interpretation who steals the show as haughty Nazi.

We see this sensational film not only by its action and intrigue but also by the historical deeds that are well depicted and related to Simon Wiesenthal and concentration camps as Riga and Flossenburg where was executed Admiral Canaris . Even only for that reason the film worthwhile seeing . Spectacular musical score fitting to action by nowadays very famous Andrew Lloyd Weber , including a lively and jolly Christmas song at the main and ending titles . Furthermore , colorful and atmospheric cinematography by classic cameraman Oswald Morris .

The motion picture is compellingly directed by Ronald Neame . Ronald's smoothly persuasive direction attracted reception by the public and was a success at the box office . Neame was one of Britain's best cameraman in the 1930s and 40s, working for David Lean, later he turned to direction in 1947 with 'Take my life'. His biggest hits was undoubtedly 'The Poseidon adventure' , 'Scrooge' , Gambit' , 'The prime of Miss Jean Brodie' , and 'Odessa file' . Rating: Splendid and excellent, above average .