Shining Through (1992)

Director:

David Seltzer

Writers (WGA):

Susan Isaacs (novel)
David Seltzer (screenplay)

Release Date:

31 January 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

He needed to trust her with his secret. She had to trust him with her life.

Plot Keywords:

1940s | Nudity | Black Stockings | Translator | Nazi

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Michael Douglas	...	Ed Leland
Melanie Griffith	...	Linda Voss
Liam Neeson	...	Franze-Otto Dietrich
Joely Richardson	...	Margrete Von Eberstein
John Gielgud	...	Sunflower
Francis Guinan	...	Andrew Berringer
Patrick Winczewski	...	Fishmonger
Anthony Walters	...	Dietrich's Son
Victoria Shalet	...	Dietrich's Daughter
Sheila Allen	...	Olga Leiner, Margrete's Mother
Stanley Beard	...	Linda's Father
Sylvia Syms	...	Linda's Mother
Ronald Nitschke	...	Horst Drescher
Hansi Jochmann	...	Hedda Drescher
Peter Flechtner	...	S.S. Officer at Fish Market

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Rankcolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate no. 31366) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

In the living-room, when Linda and her father read a letter from her imperiled aunts and cousin in Berlin, the music on the phonograph is Robert Schumann's "Kinderszenen" (Scenes of Childhood), Opus 15.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The flag in Leland's office has 50 stars. It should have 48.

Quotes:

Ed Leland: [seeing Linda for the first time in six months after their passionate affair, and he has come strolling in with a stunning brunette] You can come work for me while I'm here, I can always use a good secretary.
Linda Voss: This is all so civilized, Edward. That's what you like, isn't it? Civilized people, polite ladies with pedigrees who look good at the opera, and never make you laugh too hard, and never make you feel too much. I've had a lot of time to think about this and don't tell me it's the war, when I've been waiting for six months to hear whether you're dead or alive and you waltz into a nightclub.
Ed Leland: Linda, I came in last night and I was going to call you.
Linda Voss: Oh, go to hell.
[He grabs her arm]
Linda Voss: Careful, Ed. You might have to admit you know me.
Ed Leland: Linda, it is the war.
Linda Voss: You're so noble, Ed.
Ed Leland: Did I promise you something? If I did, I'd like to know.
Army SSG in Canteen: Excuse me sir, I thought the young lady might like to dance.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Gynaikes dilitirio (1993)

Soundtrack:

Goodbye Dear, I'll Be Back In A Year

Don't Miss The Point

This will be a short review. I have seen a lot of pro and con on this movie, but almost all of the con's talk of the unbelievable plot. I will give you that the plot has some problems, and if this was a serious spy movie, then I'd be there with you, but that is not what this film is. This film is a total romance with some action thrown in. If you watch it and see how two people will risk all they have for each other because they are in love then you will enjoy this film. Sure there are holes in the plot...but not in the romance. Melanie is very likable in this movie and I think there is great chemistry! If you don't scrutinize the plot so much you may even find yourself routing for them as they cross the Swiss border.