Mata Hari (1985)

Mata Hari is a beautiful Dutch-born dancer, working in Paris. It is August 1914 and war between France and Germany seems imminent. However, she accepts an invitation to travel to Berlin as ... See full summary »

Director:

Curtis Harrington

Writer:

Joel Ziskin

Stars:

Sylvia Kristel, Christopher Cazenove, Oliver Tobias

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sylvia Kristel	...	Mata Hari
Christopher Cazenove	...	Karl
Oliver Tobias	...	Ladoux
Gaye Brown	...	Fraulein Doktor
Gottfried John	...	Wolff
William Fox	...	Maitre Clunet
Michael Anthony	...	Duke of Montmorency
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Prosecutor
Anthony Newlands	...	Baron Joubert
Brian Badcoe	...	General Messigny
Tutte Lemkow	...	Ybarra
Taylor Ryan	...	Contessa
Toby Rolt	...	Jean Prevost (as Tobias Rolt)
Victor Langley	...	Colonel Michaud
Nicholas Selby	...	Von Jagow

Storyline

Mata Hari is a beautiful Dutch-born dancer, working in Paris. It is August 1914 and war between France and Germany seems imminent. However, she accepts an invitation to travel to Berlin as part of a show. On the train she meets a young German army officer but any thoughts of romance are cut short when a French agent is murdered on the train, while in her company. She is arrested in Germany but freed when the German officer intervenes. While in Germany war breaks out and she is recruited by German Intelligence to spy on France.

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Plot Keywords:

femme fatale | character name as title | mata hari character | bare breasts | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

When she danced, their secrets flowed like wine.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The genealogy of the Mata Hari character was half-Dutch and half-Javanese. Actress Sylvia Kristel playing her was actually in real-life of Dutch lineage herself having come from Holland. Kristel was born in Utrecht in the Netherlands whereas the real-life Mata Hari was born in Leeuwarden, Holland.

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Alternate Versions

US DVD version is heavily cut. In the original international versions love scenes are much longer and much more graphic.

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Connections

Version of Mata Hari: The True Story (2003)

User Reviews

Gorgeous photography in this much under-rated WWI picture

So what if some say this was "Awful"! The supporting cast under Miss Kristal is actually very good. Both the French and the Germans are believable. (What is it with lesbian German "fraulein doktors"?) :-) While the WWI battle scenes were rather poor for their lack of hundreds of extras, the details of what WAS shown is very commendable! Miss Kristal's best scene is where she stands at the edge of a trench and her coat drops to reveal for the first time her nurse's uniform (her costume for her spy duties). It doesn't sound dramatic, but the shot IS! The rest of the movie is just GORGEOUS with the European locations, set decoration and authentic props (including a steam locomotive!). It is a beautifully shot movie! You think you are back in 1916! If you enjoyed the location photography in THE BLUE MAX, you will also like MATA HARI! It may not be CITIZEN KANE but very watchable... many times, even!

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

September 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Grande Aposta, Mata Hari

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1