It follows the experiences of the Dutch Reformed Ten Boom family in Haarlem, Netherlands, during World War II. This film was the original movie production based on the book by Corrie Ten Boom.
Casper Ten Boom (Arthur O'Connell) and his daughters, Corrie (Jeannette Clift) and Betsie (Julie Harris) have run a multi-generational watch repair shop in Haarlem. They are devout Christians with a robust Reformed theology. After Germany invades the Netherlands in 1940, Casper initially protests by wearing a Jewish star. The family also begins to help Jewish refugees trying to escape German rule. A brother, Willem (Robert Rietti), lives in the countryside, and his family is also deeply involved in the underground resistance. The family hides a wide variety of Jews, some practicing, some secular. They build a hiding place in their home to conceal the Jews in the event of searches by the authorities.
About halfway through the film, the authorities catch the Ten Boom family. Casper, Corrie, and Betsie are imprisoned locally. Here, Corrie builds a relationship with a trustie prisoner, Katje (Eileen Heckart), who, after three years in prison, knows how to game the system. When the Allies threaten to take the Netherlands, Corrie, Betsie, and Katje are transferred to Ravensbrück, a women's concentration camp in Northern Germany. Their lives and the outcomes of their time there shape the film's final section.
"The Hiding Place" is far superior to the 2023 film version based on a stage play. The 1975 film is much more nuanced and realistic, depicting varying perspectives within the Christian church and the Jewish community. Julie Harris's Betsie is much more believable than the 2023 Betsy. O'Connell, Clift, and Heckart give strong performances.
"The Hiding Place" was produced by a division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This fact had several negative impacts on the film. First, some concentration camp/prison horrors are underplayed or only hinted at. Secondly, an evangelical Christian message became increasingly heavy-handed towards the film's end. I didn't mind the numerous earlier religious references that underscored the Ten Booms' devout faith. This approach likely narrowed the movie's appeal to a general audience. Still, "The Hiding Place" has a respectable place in this genre of films.
Casper Ten Boom (Arthur O'Connell) and his daughters, Corrie (Jeannette Clift) and Betsie (Julie Harris) have run a multi-generational watch repair shop in Haarlem. They are devout Christians with a robust Reformed theology. After Germany invades the Netherlands in 1940, Casper initially protests by wearing a Jewish star. The family also begins to help Jewish refugees trying to escape German rule. A brother, Willem (Robert Rietti), lives in the countryside, and his family is also deeply involved in the underground resistance. The family hides a wide variety of Jews, some practicing, some secular. They build a hiding place in their home to conceal the Jews in the event of searches by the authorities.
About halfway through the film, the authorities catch the Ten Boom family. Casper, Corrie, and Betsie are imprisoned locally. Here, Corrie builds a relationship with a trustie prisoner, Katje (Eileen Heckart), who, after three years in prison, knows how to game the system. When the Allies threaten to take the Netherlands, Corrie, Betsie, and Katje are transferred to Ravensbrück, a women's concentration camp in Northern Germany. Their lives and the outcomes of their time there shape the film's final section.
"The Hiding Place" is far superior to the 2023 film version based on a stage play. The 1975 film is much more nuanced and realistic, depicting varying perspectives within the Christian church and the Jewish community. Julie Harris's Betsie is much more believable than the 2023 Betsy. O'Connell, Clift, and Heckart give strong performances.
"The Hiding Place" was produced by a division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This fact had several negative impacts on the film. First, some concentration camp/prison horrors are underplayed or only hinted at. Secondly, an evangelical Christian message became increasingly heavy-handed towards the film's end. I didn't mind the numerous earlier religious references that underscored the Ten Booms' devout faith. This approach likely narrowed the movie's appeal to a general audience. Still, "The Hiding Place" has a respectable place in this genre of films.