Betrayed (1988)

An FBI agent posing as a combine driver becomes romantically involved with a Midwest farmer who lives a double life as a white supremacist.

Director:

Costa-Gavras

Writer:

Joe Eszterhas

Stars:

Debra Winger, Tom Berenger, John Heard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Debra Winger	...	Katie Phillips / Cathy Weaver
Tom Berenger	...	Gary Simmons
John Heard	...	Michael Carnes
Betsy Blair	...	Gladys Simmons
John Mahoney	...	Shorty
Ted Levine	...	Wes
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Flynn
Albert Hall	...	Al Sanders
David Clennon	...	Jack Carpenter
Robert Swan	...	Dean
Richard Libertini	...	Sam Kraus
Maria Valdez	...	Rachel Simmons
Brian Bosak	...	Joey Simmons
Alan Wilder	...	Duffin
Clifford A. Pellow	...	Reverend Russell Johnson

Storyline

A woman starts work on a farm, and gets to know the owner. They get on well, and she also gets on with his children. He asks her to stay on when the work is finished. Things are not what they seem, and we discover the woman is actually an FBI agent...

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Plot Keywords:

fbi | widower | white supremacist | farmer | extremism | 

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 August 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Summer Lightning

Filming Locations:

Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$19,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$25,816,139

Company Credits

Production Co:

United Artists,Winkler Films,CST Telecommunications

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Last cinema film of Betsy Blair.

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Goofs

Reversed footage: As the family arrives to the camp site, smoke falls downwards from the sky to the torches.

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Quotes

Gary Simmons: [entering he bank with mask and gun] Good morning! We rob banks!

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Connections

Referenced in Seinfeld: The Frogger (1998)

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Soundtracks

If You Wanna Get To Heaven
Written by Steve Cash & John Dillon
Performed by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc.

User Reviews

Love, Betrayal and Terrorism

In Chicago, the host of a controversial radio talk show Sam Kraus (Richard Libertini) is assassinated in the garage of his building by the terrorist group Z.O.G. – "Zionist Occupied Government. FBI agent Catherine Phillips (Debra Winger) is assigned to work undercover in a rural area to investigate the prime suspect Gary Simmons (Tom Berenger) using the identity of Katie Weaver. Katie meets the family man and widower Gary, his mother, his son and his daughter, and she believes he is innocent and they fall in love for each other. Gary trusts on Katie, proposes her and discloses the truth about his separatists and bigot friends and himself to her. Katie lives a dilemma and asks her superior Mike Carnes (John Heard) to be taken off the case because of her feelings. Mike insists and Katie is divided by her love and her duty, leading to a tragic consequence.

The thriller "Betrayed" is still impressive nineteen years after its release. The story is ahead of time, showing terrorism inside North America thirteen years before the tragic September 11th. In 1988, Iraq was allied of United States of America and Iran was the enemy. Sam Kraus foresees in his show that in the future Iran would be allied of USA. Director Costa-Gravas disclose a story with drama, romance, thriller and action through two needy characters: the agent Catherine Phillips is orphan, lives alone, and when she meets the family of her suspect she can not believe that he is a criminal. Gary Simmons is a honest man, disclosing his world to his beloved mate. This conflict of emotions and feelings leads to a sad and pessimist conclusion. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Atraiçoados" ("Betrayed")