Soldaat van Oranje (1977)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

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:

The song that Rutger Hauer's character sings while soup is being poured on his head is called "Terang Bulan", which in 1963 became the national anthem of Malaysia. It is forbidden now in Malaysia to be used for any other purpose, whereas in the 1930s and 40s it was a popular song in the Netherlands and elsewhere.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The harbor minesweepers have post-war NATO registration numbers.

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 "Zomergasten: (#10.1)" (1997)

A first rate war movie that has just about something for everyone. Great stuff!

Apparently when Spielberg saw 'Soldier Of Orange' he phoned Paul Verhoeven congratulating him and urging him to come to Hollywood. That took about ten years but in retrospect in might have been a big mistake. Despite an excellent Hollywood debut (the savage science fiction satire 'RoboCop', still one of Verhoeven's best), the directors movies have been mostly disappointing ever since. Just compare his most recent movie, the lame 'Hollow Man', to this one. There's no denying that there has been a major drop in quality. 'Soldier Of Orange' is worth mentioning in the same breath as such classic war movies as Kubrick's 'Paths Of Glory', Fuller's 'The Big Red One' and Peckinpah's 'Cross Of Iron'. It's that good. Considering it was made by a director with a reputation for provocation and general outrageousness, it plays it surprisingly straight, and in my opinion is all the better for it. There is some violence, but it is appropriate for the subject matter, and there is very little sex. This is quite an epic story dealing with the fates of six University friends in Holland after the outbreak of WW2. The ensemble cast is excellent, but Verhoeven favourites Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe are particularly outstanding. Hauer still has a strong cult following despite appearing in a string of b-grade movies for many years. Krabbe is best remembered by most movie fans as a Bond villain, if he's remembered at all. It's such a shame neither actor achieved the international success they both deserved. Check out their performances in 'Soldier Of Orange', Krabbe's in 'The Fourth Man', and Hauer's in 'Flesh & Blood'. Verhoeven certainly got the best out of them both. The supporting cast also includes dependable Brit Edward Fox ('The Day Of The Jackal') and Susan Penhaligon of cult Aussie thriller 'Patrick'. 'Soldier Of Orange' will be quite an eye opener for anyone unfamiliar with Verhoeven's pre-Hollywood output. It's a first rate war movie that has just about something for everyone. Highly recommended, as is the equally good (but very different) 'Spetters' and 'The Fourth Man'.