Soldaat van Oranje (1977)

Director:

Paul Verhoeven

Writers:

Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema (book)
Kees Holierhoek (writer)

Release Date:

16 August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

Plot:

This film depicts World War II through the eyes of several Dutch men. It covers the beginning of the war...

Plot Keywords:

Student | Resistance | Nazi | Fraternity | Gestapo

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win

Cast

Rutger Hauer	...	Erik Lanshof
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Guus LeJeune
Susan Penhaligon	...	Susan
Edward Fox	...	Colonel Rafelli
Lex van Delden	...	Nico
Derek de Lint	...	Alex
Huib Rooymans	...	Jan Weinberg
Dolf de Vries	...	Jack Ten Brinck
Eddy Habbema	...	Robby Froost
Belinda Meuldijk	...	Esther
Peter Faber	...	Will Dostgaarde
Rijk de Gooyer	...	Gestapo-man Breitner
Paul Brandenburg	...	SS Lt. Thelen
Ward de Ravet	...	Resistance Leader
Bert Struys	...	Resistance Leader

Also Known As:

Soldier of Orange (UK) (USA)
In geheime opdracht van Hare Majesteit (Belgium: Flemish title) (poster title)
Survival Run
Voor koningin en vaderland (Netherlands) (TV title)

Runtime:

Netherlands:152 min | UK:121 min | Netherlands:215 min (4 episodes) | Spain:103 min | USA:165 min

Country:

Belgium | Netherlands

Language:

Dutch | English | German

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Norway:16 | Germany:12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 | UK:15 | USA:R | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

's-Gravenhage, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands

Company:

Excelsior Films

Trivia:

Director Paul Verhoeven originally wanted Derek de Lint to play Erik Lanshof, the title character. He had previously directed Rutger Hauer in the Dutch television series "Floris" (1969) and the film Turks fruit (1973) and did not think Hauer was right for the lead in this picture. De Lint read for Lanshof several times, but Verhoeven never quite got the performance out of de Lint he was looking for. He then decided to give Hauer a try. Hauer surprised Verhoeven by giving a very strong reading, with the result that Verhoeven cast him as Erik and de Lint as Alex.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The tanks which appear in the Russian scene (1943 or 1944) are Leopard tanks of the Dutch army, first built in 1965.

Quotes:

[English officer gives Gus a cyanide pill]
English officer: Should anything go wrong, cyanide.
Gus: What flavor? Orange or lemon?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Allemaal film: De gouden jaren (#1.3)" (2007)

Paul Verhoeven's War Movie

Soldaat van Oranje is Paul Verhoeven's war movie, one that already shows his early leaning towards grungy realism - graphic torture, debased human nature and plenty of bare boobies - which is why it had a pretty mixed reception when it came out here in Holland.

This story is told from the point of view of a number of well to do Leiden University students. For clarification, very few people before the war had the finances to go to university.

Highlighting some now internationally famous Dutch actors - Rutger Hauer, Derek de Lint, Jeroen Krabbé as well as locally known actors like Belinda Meuldijk, Rijk de Gooyer and this is also a showcase of acting talent during the seventies and early eighties. British seventies actors Susan Penhaligon and Edward Fox (A Bridge Too Far) also have interesting performances.

Based on the memoirs of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema (Erik Lanshof in the movie), this is a reasonably realistic and truthful recounting of war and resistance during world war two. Roelfzema, a genuine war hero, first joined the student resistance, then the SOE, then joined the RAF and finally became an adjudant (aide) to queen Wilhelmina. He is still spritely and alive, living in Hawaii with his English wife.

It is also pretty unique as it features what must be cinema's first and only drive-by-shooting from a bicycle. And one with wooden tires at that. And a great yarn too. It has heroism and cowardice, loyalty and betrayal, relativism, principles and pragmatism. Recommended.