In the aftermath of World War II, American, British and Russian forces are vying for political control of Germany. When a German academic with a plan for unification is due to address a conference, there are some elements who do not wish him to attend
This film is a bit of a curio, a sort of uneasy mix of documentary and narrative thriller. It feels a little like Murder On The Orient Express as we try to figure out who's after Dr Bernhardt, but it's really much more about the mistrust and opportunism which existed in Germany in the late forties. There are amazing shots of bombed-out Frankfurt and Berlin literally blown to rubble, everywhere are people hawking what few possessions they have in order to get by, and the only real currency is cigarettes. The British-American alliance is uneasy, neither trust the Russians and all are worried about a German resurgence; none can bury the past, or agree on the future. It's perceptive, thought-provoking stuff, and it accurately foresees not only the Communist annexing of the fifties, but also the unification of the nineties. It was made by a terrific cosmopolitan group - a gifted French/American director, a great German writer (Curt Siodmak, who, along with his brother Robert, made some of the best films of the forties) and a fine international cast. The plethora of nations is amusingly summed up at the start when all the men hit on Oberon and she fobs them all off in different languages. The thriller elements of the plot don't always work so well but the characters are rich and intriguing, and whilst the extensive narration is off-putting it's there for a purpose. A small but profound anti-war film, made at a pivotal moment in military history when politicians were only concerned with their spoils.
This film is a bit of a curio, a sort of uneasy mix of documentary and narrative thriller. It feels a little like Murder On The Orient Express as we try to figure out who's after Dr Bernhardt, but it's really much more about the mistrust and opportunism which existed in Germany in the late forties. There are amazing shots of bombed-out Frankfurt and Berlin literally blown to rubble, everywhere are people hawking what few possessions they have in order to get by, and the only real currency is cigarettes. The British-American alliance is uneasy, neither trust the Russians and all are worried about a German resurgence; none can bury the past, or agree on the future. It's perceptive, thought-provoking stuff, and it accurately foresees not only the Communist annexing of the fifties, but also the unification of the nineties. It was made by a terrific cosmopolitan group - a gifted French/American director, a great German writer (Curt Siodmak, who, along with his brother Robert, made some of the best films of the forties) and a fine international cast. The plethora of nations is amusingly summed up at the start when all the men hit on Oberon and she fobs them all off in different languages. The thriller elements of the plot don't always work so well but the characters are rich and intriguing, and whilst the extensive narration is off-putting it's there for a purpose. A small but profound anti-war film, made at a pivotal moment in military history when politicians were only concerned with their spoils.