Shining Through (1992)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

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:

Nudity | New York | Train | Secretary | Translator

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 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Germany:16 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Austria

Company:

Peter V. Miller Investment Corp.

Trivia:

Many of the Nazi SS men in the movie were US soldiers from the Berlin Brigade.

Goofs:

Plot holes: No intelligence agency, no matter how desperate, would send a secretary behind enemy lines with no training, or a senior officer who can't speak the language.

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:

(I've Got A Gal in) Kalamazoo

Great Entertainment

Shining Through has everything one could ask for in a movie -- big stars, great acting, suspense, drama, and a fine score. But first and foremost, Shining Through is all about Melanie Griffith, the only real female mega-star of our time (sorry, Julia). This is one of Melanie's meatiest roles and she is at her absolute peak of physical beauty. I'll admit she may not be the greatest actress to grace the silver screen but she does a wonderful job here and I am certain that this performance will win over many of her detractors. Although the secretary-from-Queens-becomes-international-WWII-spy premise might strain credibility a bit, once you get into it you can sit back and enjoy the ride.

Michael Douglas is superb, as always. I was also blown away by Joely Richardson as Margrete and wish that her relationship with our Melanie could have been developed further. Would love to see more of her! Liam Neeson seemed a little too wimpy for a high-ranking German Officer but, what the hell, it's only a movie. Ludwig Haas's portrayal of Adolf Hitler marked the crowning achievement in his long and distinguished career -- a far sight better than his appearance in Zärtliche Chaoten.

Bottom line from Claudia: A real movie-lover's movie.