The Aryan Couple (2004) User Reviews

Pay To Live: Another Aspect of the 'Jewish Problem' in Nazi Germany

[gradyharp · 7/10 · 13 February 2007]

Despite the fact that there have been many good films about the Holocaust, the Nazi manipulated genocide of the Jews in World War II, there is enough room for a new perspective to that hideous period in history to make THE COUPLE a welcome addition to the repertoire. Written by Director John Daly based on a story by Kendrew Lascelles this film reveals a little known bit of history that shows that the Nazis allowed the wealthy Jews to 'buy their freedom and lives' at enormous losses. And the key Nazi, at least in this story, is none other than Himmler.

Joseph Krauzenberg (Martin Landau) is a very wealthy German Jewish industrial tycoon whose fortune is mirrored in his palaces that are more like museums of great art. But in the year 1944 his important steel mills and other major industries are needed by the Nazis and so a plan is hatched to offer Krauzenberg, his wife Rachel (Judy Parfitt) and his considerable family the opportunity to escape death by allowing them to leave Germany for Switzerland and ultimately for Palestine. The only servants the Krauzenbergs maintain are the Vassmans - Ingrid (Caroline Carver) and Hans (Kenny Doughty) - an Aryan couple who in reality work for the Underground and are actually Jews under strong cover.

Eichmann (Steven Mackintosh) and Himmler (Danny Webb) are perpetrating the plan to gain all of the wealth and lands and homes and art of the Krauzenbergs and they attend a dinner party at the Krauzenberg palace to sign the final papers. One of the other officers Edelhein (Christopher Fulford) is the most repulsive of the group and despite the fact that Ingrid Vassman is pregnant, Edelhein pursues her as a perfect foil for implanting his precious seed in the 'Aryan beauty' to populate the new Germany. As the night of transaction occurs Krauzenberg visits his large family being held by Eichmann in the Gestapo and reassures them that all will be safe. The Vassmans love the Krauzenbergs and ultimately confess that they are Jewish and wish to escape to Palestine with the Krauzenbergs. In a fast paced finale the trials and tribulations of the final plan are worked through in a somewhat surprising way.

THE COUPLE is beautifully photographed (the film was shot in Poland despite the fact that the Krauzenberg estates were in Hungary) and the mood of evil is always present in the night scenes with the requisite searchlights penetrating the darkness. Laudau and Parfitt are strong as are Webb, Mackintosh and Fulford. Neither Caroline Carver nor Kenny Doughty is up to the task of making the Couple credible. But the overall impact of the film is the focus of the evil that drove the Nazi machine, even with this slight bit of human kindness that was bestowed on the Krauzenberg family at such an awful cost. Grady Harp

The subject matter is more daftly executed than deftly executed, with a real lack of both respect and knowing towards the situations that unfold.

[johnnyboyz · 5/10 · 9 January 2010]

The Aryan Couple is a film that covers a story and general subject matter without the respect nor attention they both deserve. It tells the most spectacular of tales in quite the most unspectacular of fashions; dumbing down harsh, gritty, disturbing goings-on in 1940s Eastern Europe into a bland, televisual, underwhelming series' of events - the idea and the situations most of the characters find themselves in are quite incredible, the cinematic translation from script to screen is anything but. Directed by now deceased John Daly, he of mostly producing credit fame; the film adopts a somewhat flimsy, 'point and shoot' aesthetic running on what appears to be a film stock more akin to the whatever format they used in the 1980s for shooting specifically made-for TV, usually police orientated, serial dramas.

The film sees elderly, wealthy Jewish Hungarian Joseph Krauzenberg (Landau), and his family of various generations, come up against the Nazi war machine whom observe this successful Jewish businessman and naturally, want in. Using all the powers, bargaining, wrangling abilities he has plus something known as the 'Europa Plan', Joseph attempts to essentially trade in what he owns for he and his families' lives. But a film revolving around this would result in whatever threat there might be, born out of whether the Nazi's would stay true to their word or not. As it happens, there're some incidences in which this is used to get across a scrap of dramatic weight; but the real story going on here is that which relates to the title: an Aryan couple whom work for the Krauzenberg family and are secretly working for the resistance; so secretly in fact, that their employers know nothing of it.

The film begins with a somewhat ill-judged sequence which sees a whole load of holocaust iconography thrust into our faces. Where, maybe a series of text might have been more efficient informing us of necessary statistics and actions that were going in at the time, in the area; Daly throws a series of scenes at us in which dramatic shots of death camps and cattle trains accompanied by the necessary music are the order of the day; on one particular occasion, a tracking shot towards an oven as the looming, brooding sound effects crank it up a level. From the off, the film lays out its hand; telling us to feel the pain and the emotion which comes with this sort of subject material rather than allowing us to naturally arrive at this point in our own time as the film tragically progresses.

Following the premature bombardment of some of this content, the film will cut to a train station and use a second manipulation cue, in that it provides us with a Nazi guard on the platform tossing a child's toy onto the coal carriage located just behind the engine – obviously lost or dropped following the ensuing chaos of herding those 'guilty' of Judaism onto a cattle train. It's this somewhat sickly identification the film makes with the fact there are children involved, which again, begs us to fast-track emotion and feel the pain and emotional anxiety which almost certainly comes when better films are executing similar subject matter in a more efficient manner. The opening is an acknowledgement to those that died, whereas the film is more about those that are desperately doing everything in their power to survive. Daly's referencing to those that did perish is nothing more than exactly that; a mere 'nod' of the head, a removing of the hat to those that suffered – to say it doesn't quite reach the levels of achievement Polanski got to in 2002's The Piainist, in terms of getting across a sense of fear; loss; tragedy; risk and survival – all at various points and all observed brilliantly, is a gross understatement.

The Aryan couple of the title are Hans Vassmann (Doughty) and his wife Ingrid (Carver), two people whom it is established are 'doing their bit' in smuggling in the necessary items required to run a resistance outlet at the Krauzenberg's huge home. One of only very few tense moments comes early on involving the two when they try to get past a German checkpoint whilst carrying items they'd surely be shot for possessing. It might've been even more effective had the German guards not been played by British actors speaking in English the whole time – is it asking too much to have German actors playing these role and using the German language? It would seem the film-makers were worrying a little too much about audience accessibility to the piece than giving a more authentic experience for the rest of us.

The film maintains a pretty desperate sense that it wants to tug at those heart strings more often than not, thus encompassing some pretty melodramatic acting accompanied by some daftly executed scenes; best highlighted in the instance when some family heirlooms are handed over to the Aryan couple in a 'thank you' gesture. Some Nazi officers carry scars on their faces to emphasise evilness; most of the lines at the more tense of times are representative of peculiar screen writing and are delivered in the worst of fashions: "We will never be forgotten" a character states at one point around a dinner table, over a rousing musical score, but we're not involved enough to feel anything; while a moral predicament two people question each other over seems half-baked and lacking in any sort of real dramatic effect. The Aryan Couple is quite the little cinematic misfire; a floundering mess of an adaptation of what is a supposedly true story of something which deserved better.

Jews Dining With Nazis

[bkoganbing · 5/10 · 28 December 2009]

Kenny Doughty and Caroline Carver play the title role of a pair of gentile house servants to a wealthy Jewish couple, Martin Landau and Judy Parfitt. Landau is some concern to the Third Reich which is now both at war with the world and just getting into the business of exterminating Jews. But this particular Jew has a large industrial concern that he built, but the firm's liquid assets are in banks quite beyond the control of the Reich. The Nazi dilemma is to get them to hand over control and maybe let them live, emigrate to Palestine as part of the bargain.

Danny Webb plays Heinrich Himmler and he'd love to get control of the industrial concern for the S.S. and get to be number two in the regime maybe displace rivals, Borrman, Goebbels, Speer, and Goering. And Landau's got an art collection and if Himmler gets a hold of that, he'll have one to rival the one Goering is looting from France. So what's wrong with having dinner, breaking bread even if it is with Jews.

The fly in the ointment is The Aryan Couple who turn out to be both resistance fighters and Jews. It certainly did look strange that in those times gentiles would be working for Jews when that was expressly forbidden by the Nuremberg laws. They certainly raise a few eyebrows at S.S. headquarters.

The cast performs well enough, but on the whole I found the story to be bizarre at best. And it might have worked well with just Landau as the industrialist matching wits with Himmler over dinner and drinks. The Aryan Couple of the title really contributes nothing to the essential part of the story.

Daly Directs a gem

[Lance-94 · 5 December 2004]

John Daly second film as a director is a gem , outstanding performances by a talented cast led by Martin Landau & a sharp tongued Judy Parafit the story has interesting sub plots that leave the audience twisting and turning to the final conclusion . Beautifully shot on location in Poland ,the sets are lush and the cinema photography is rich with color and texture. Daly has gone on to break new ground yet again , his courage and foresight are well documented and his attempt to break new ground yet again is impressive . I highly recommend this film based on real events of the Europa project during WWII in which a rich Jewish industrialist played by Landau seeks a way out of Nazi infested Hungary by trading his fortune for freedom of his entire family and a plane to Palistine . This thriller was compared to the work of Hithcock and Polanski in a recent NY review. Congrats to John Daly who has broken the boundaries yet again.

This movies' most glaring blunder

[plywaski · 6/10 · 6 January 2009]

None of the film's creators seemingly bothered to check on WHICH side of Jews' (under the Nazi Germans) clothing the Star of David was demanded! It was the RIGHT side, NOT the left! With the THOROUGH search ordered of the Krausenberg palace it is not credible that the radio transmitter/receiver and its large antenna were not discovered by the SS. Additionaally, such a rig would have been swiftly detected and localized by Radio Direction Finding (RDF) equipment. All underground radio transmitter operations had to be moved from one place to another as swiftly as possible to avoid detection by RDF.

The suggestion that Heinrich Himmler had a sense of honor and therefore kept his word to Krausenberg is not only beyond ridiculous but it also attempts at a saving grace to a completely dishonorable and without scruples man. As it turned out in the end, he didn't even keep his word to his divine Adolf Hitler! Ex "native" of the Lodz Ghetto, Auschwitz and Dachau

Christopher Fulford

[marklaw-37806 · 7/10 · 8 May 2020]

I expected this film to be a big mess but Christopher Fulford's performance in this film is outstanding. He produces a real feeling of absolute terror with his performance that had me sweating with nerves. Truly powerful. Bravo!

Fiction, But Well Done

[jodie-43 · 6/10 · 21 January 2007]

My wife picked this up at the video store the other night. I am a WWII period movie junkie.

I found the plot feasible, but unlikely. Himmler was too much of a controlling egomaniac to negotiate with a DIRTY JEW. He would have taken Krauzenberg Company and wealth and had him and his family killed.

The actors playing the NAZI soldiers did a good job showing the cold disregard and hatred that Nazis had for anyone but their own.

Martin Landau did a very good job playing Krauzenberg. He at least tried to have a German accent. Many of the other characters did not even attempt the accent, but instead sounded very British.

As for the cinematography, it was very good. The editing is OK. The music is typical for this type of movie.

The actor that played Himmler did a very good job with this role. It did help that he bore a striking resemblance to Himmler.

Overall this is good period piece that reminds us of the events of the Nazis and JEWS during WWII.

A slick student movie

[eye3 · 3/10 · 11 March 2005]

I saw this movie at a festival screening in D.C. So much potential is wasted by student-level writing and direction, which is all the more incredible given that second-time director 'John Daly (qv)' has produced some of the best movies of recent decades. 'Martin Landau (qv)' giving his usual all as Jewish-Hungarian industrialist Joseph Krauzenberg can't make up for the patchy character development elsewhere - what there is of it. 'Judy Parfitt (qv)' as his wife Rachel throws out token lines of accusation and irony one would expect from an adolescent when a stony silence from such a part would send cheap gangster Heinrich Himmler ('Danny Webb (qv)') to the corner, hanging his head in shame.

And these heavyweight characters are just the background for the title characters, who work as the Krauzenberg's butler and maid. After the others are all done, we still have another 40 minutes of the picture to follow the title characters' fates. I won't go into further story detail here, but I'll just say that 'Caroline Carver (qv)' shines much, much brighter than her sketchy part calls for; look for her in better work. 'Kenny Doughty (qv)' doesn't overcome his title character's limits; virtually anyone else in the cast could have played the part.

For that matter, Daly's casting veteran British and Irish stage actors to play Nazi Germans and Jewish Holocaust victims is old hat, and a classic mark of a limited budget. In this day and age, budget or no, they're no substitute for locals playing local parts - audiences today see through it. Movies are about the audience not seeing through it.

All in all, it's sadly obvious Daly's real project wasn't this story; it was his curiosity at trying his hand at directing. He had the resources to make it big-project slick, but not the vision to make it memorable after I left the movie-house.

Engaging, Thrilling and Dramatic War Super Production

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 14 October 2010]

In 1944, in Hungary, the wealthy Jewish industrialist Joseph Krauzenberg (Martin Landau) is forced by the Reichführer Heinrich Himmler (Danny Webb) to deliver his 3,000 employee factory; his palace with his collection of antiques and arts; a large amount in gold; and his house to the Reich. In return, the Nazis would send his big family that is arrested in Gestapo safe and sound to the neutral Switzerland and then to Palestine. Himmler schedules a dinner with Krauzenberg and his wife Rachel Krauzenberg (Judy Parfitt) to sign the contract and orders the butcher Eichmann (Steven Mackintosh) to not do harm to the imprisoned Jews relatives of Krauzenberg. Himmer also send the SS Edelhein (Christopher Fulford) to check the security of the palace and the two German house servants of Krauzenberg, Hans Vassman (Kenny Doughty) and his beautiful pregnant wife Ingrid Vassman (Caroline Carver). Hans and Ingrid are actually the Jews David and Leila Steinberg and members of the resistance. When the Krauzenberg couple concludes the negotiation with Himmler, Ingrid discloses to the couple that Hans and she are Jews. However, the deal is closed and Joseph has no means to include the young servants in his deal.

"The Aryan Couple" is an engaging, thrilling and dramatic war super production. The story is suspenseful and uses magnificent locations and cinematography. Martin Landau is fantastic as usual and Ms. Judy Parfitt has the best lines confronting Himmler. Despite the use of English language even for the German soldiers, the performances are excellent. The realistic negotiation of Joseph Krauzenberg with the Germans to save his family and the corruption of Dresler are unusual themes in this type of war movie that is unfortunately underrated in IMDb. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Contrato Arriscado" ("Risky Contract")

Hunted

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 12 January 2022]

World War 2 ... it is not just the war that was abhorent ... it is how human beings were treated. Please do not compare yourself to what especially Jews had to go through, if you decide by choice to not listen to medical experts - that is just one example of how people nowadays like to distort history.

Now that aside, there are cliches here and some predictable plot twists. But overall it is quite the engaging human story. Even when certain other twists are ... well hard to understand to say the least. But ... it is what it is and I reckon we are human after all, even if it doesn't always seem that way (in this case when being a Nazi - never forget that some if not most were brainwashed into believing certain things ... which would be a more apt comparison for those thinking themselves as victims, but let's not delve more into that).

It is a bit long and I reckon has certain pacing flaws, but the question is how much you are willing to cut it some slack for the message and the endurance of the main characters ... so in the end as always it will be up to you ...

Zero historical credibility

[telavivid · 2/10 · 20 February 2018]

I don't want to spoil the movie for future viewers. I'd just give several pieces of historical information to keep in mind before watching the film:

• During World War II, it wasn't an option to shut up and look German. Germany was notorious for keeping records of every person's family lineage for centuries. Changing your name was not a viable option to escape persecution.

• Excusing your not serving in the army with any type of disability equaled death, since there was a strict policy to execute people with disabilities.

• You couldn't bargain your way out of a concentration camp by offering money. All Jewish property was taken by Germany by law. If you happened to find an escape option, it wouldn't include a Nazi escort with fanfare.

• Hitler's ideology makes him highly unsuitable to sit and have a sophisticated dinner with a Jewish family. That's self-explanatory.

• The discipline and control among the Nazi soldiers was even higher than the control exercised over normal citizens. Please, remember this during the second half of the movie.

Escaping as a Jew from Germany or any occupied territory was close to impossible. That why any survival stories are heart-wrenching and heroic. The person who wrote the script and directed the movie wanted a dramatic effect, but - it seems to me - was less interested in a historic research.

I watched dozens of Holocaust movies and documentaries. I even watched a movie in which a girl opened the door of her home and was suddenly transported into the past of World War II. Even that movie had much more historical accuracy than this one. I find it insulting to treat such a serious and tragic subject with shallowness.

An Excellent Movie

[ron-oneto-1 · 10/10 · 1 February 2007]

Maybe being a child of the generation depicted in this movie made me feel closer to the situations. I am not Jewish if that means anything. All the actors in this story play their roles perfectly. The tension builds to a point that makes one totally involved in the events. I highly recommend this film to everyone. Not for its historical significance but for the performances of all the actors. There are few films that involve an audience so much that one feels the pressure, tension, anxiety, and utter fear the characters portray in the story. Landau plays his part well, but Gretchen Becker, Judy Parfitt and Kenny Doughty are superb along with all the supporting actors. A great movie. I like to call these movies "sleepers".

Decent, had me entertained

[joeboz53 · 7/10 · 12 February 2007]

This movie was entertaining, I think some people may have been confused between who Reich Furor Himmler and the Furor, Adolf Hitler were. As it was Himmler who was portrayed in this movie. I don't think you really need to be concerned with the accuracy of the historical accuracy, rather the story is what is well done and the fact that the Nazi's just took what they wanted from even the most powerful Jews - it's like the US Govt telling Bill Gates to sign over everything to them and they'll let him leave - it's messed up. I was entertained, but if you're looking for a Schindler's list type movie, this is probably not it. It's suspenseful, somewhat insightful and not totally predictable. It is a lower budget movie and was worth the time I took to watch it and I do recommend it.

Very Poorly Done

[writesong · 1/10 · 10 June 2008]

This film could have been great, if only someone had made the effort to pay attention to details, and make the dialogue a little more realistic.

First of all, the existence and purpose of Auschwitz, Birkenau, and Treblinka were top secret, and even the average German was unaware of them.

Absolutely no one knew anything about any gas chambers or crematoriums, not at that time.

So, how could the Krautzenbergs boldly discuss such matters with Heinrich Himmler and Adolph Eichmann?

Furthermore, the petulant accusations by Rachel Krautzenberg (or any Jew - - - or German) would have elicited immediate fatal retribution from any Nazi.

When the show began, I did wonder why the Nazis didn't just seize the Krautzenberg property and kill the Krautzenbergs, but when they mentioned the necessary cooperation of international banking, the plot made a little more sense.

Another unbelievable bit of dialogue was the German soldier confiding to a fellow soldier that he would refuse an assignment to the Russian Front.

First of all, making such a defeatist statement would cost him his life, if it were reported, so he would never dare utter it.

Second, I suspect the demoralizing problems at the Russian Front may also have been kept secret from the common soldier at that time.

I do not believe a German soldier would commit suicide because he thought Jews were being executed, even if the Jewess reminded him of his own wife, and the child they were having.

In the scene where Heinrich Himmler is putting the wedding ring on Ingrid Vassman's finger, he's using the wrong hand.

In Germany, the wedding ring goes on the ring finger of the right hand.

Wearing the wedding ring on the left hand is an American custom, not done in Europe at that time.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I was an American soldier stationed in Germany.

In another scene, the German soldier is armed with a Russian machine gun.

The aircraft that flew the Jews to Switzerland was a Douglas DC-3 "Dakota" (a.k.a., the military C-47 "Skytrain"), painted to look like a Luftwaffe aircraft.

Realistically, would a German officer shoot another German officer, in order to permit two Jews to escape, in full public view, with an array of armed German soldiers standing right there?

What became of the German officer who was arrested after arranging the escape of the Vassmans?

I'm sorry, but what could have been a very good movie turned out rather poorly.

A Thoughtful Movie

[aa4353 · 30 August 2008]

I recently viewed this film on cable TV. I found it interesting and it led me to do more research on some of the history of the era. Since I do not view movies from the prospect of the acting, scenery, etc. I found that this storyline does reflect what some experienced. It is certainly true that many objects'art were confiscated by the Nazis and it is certainly true that many lost their homes , businesses and lives. History later will reflect some of the same type of incidents from Iraqis who escaped Sadam's exploits. Since this movie was never to be a documentary, it does remind us of man's inhumanity toward man. And, we must never forget. Martin Landau is a great actor. While this movie may not have brought him awards, it is a chance to once again view his character-driven face which we have enjoyed in other venues.

Good WWII Thriller, implausible plot

[neudorf · 6/10 · 29 December 2005]

As a history buff I was amazed by the evolving plot where Himmler saves the rich Jewish Krauzenberg family, in order to take over their fast fortune. good acting, somewhat predictable directing. We sat glued to our seats, watching the evil roll before our eyes. When I came home ; checked the history and found out that the whole story is fiction, I became a little annoyed. Playing with the horrible holocaust story in this particular us distasteful, IMHO.

So, th eplt was, after all, imlausible.

Martin Landau did an excellent job as Josef Krauzenberg, and so did his "wife" Judy Parfitt. Kenny Daughty and Caroline Carver looked far too British when they tried to portray the young Jewish couple masquerading as German Aryans in Hungary

A Little Known Aspect Of The Holocaust

[sddavis63 · 4/10 · 26 March 2011]

Another in the string of "Holocaust" movies released in recent years, "The Aryan Couple" is a fictionalized account of a wealthy Jewish couple buying their way out of Germany in 1944 in return for handing over all of their wealth to the Nazis, represented in this film by Himmler and Eichmann along with a number of subordinates - some repulsive and some more sympathetic. Martin Landau had the lead role as Jewish industrialist Joseph Krauzenberg - desperate to get his family out of Germany before they end up being sent to Auschwitz or Treblinka. Added into the mix are the Krauzenberg's "Aryan" servants Hans and Ingrid, who are really a Jewish couple working for the resistance who also need to be spirited out of Germany before their real identities are discovered.

The movie attempts to reveal part of the somewhat shadowy plan to exchange Jews for cash (the so-called "Europa Plan.") In that it sheds a bit of light on a piece of the Holocaust that hasn't really received very much attention over the years. This isn't however one of the stronger Holocaust movies, in spite of its relatively fresh subject matter. It tends to plod along for the most part, until moments of extremely high tension suddenly appear (such as the dinner at the Krauzenberg home attended by Eichmann and Himmler which included a wonderful performance by Judith Parfitt, who played Rachel Krauzenberg, as she displayed her completely undisguised contempt for her Nazi guests), the revelation of Hans and Ingrid's true identities and their eventual escape into Switzerland. Sometimes, though, it seemed to me as if director John Daly was trying too hard to raise the tension in those dramatic scenes, almost as if to compensate for the relative lack of drama in the rest of the movie.

This is certainly worth watching because it does deal with a little known aspect of the Holocaust, but in no other way could it really be considered a great movie. (4/10)

I liked it.

[sgodwin-1 · 8/10 · 28 May 2007]

I thought the story might be plausible. If it was early enough in the war, maybe Eichman and Himmler did have subtle confrontations. I certainly agreed that all that wealth would allow 2 Jews to go to the guy signing the check! I thought the photography was beautiful, the clothing and hairstyles remarkably accurate yet different from what I have seen in the past. The train and cars and guns - what authenticity. I think this film gives a different perspective in the earlier part of the war. Who knows for sure what went on? I could see the Germans in this movie and see the hatred and utter ghoulish nature that they have evoked (costumers and makeup certainly help). I thought the concern with which Kratzenburg showed each individual is what help make him successful in the past and would help him to achieve his ends now.

how did the poor Aryan couple cope?

[janecreates · 1/10 · 14 October 2006]

It's a shame that such serious subject matter was ruined by such bad direction and a terrible script. The concept of The Europa deals, and the plight of the Jews in WW2 are great and worthy subject matter. But here, they were developed into a wooden, ill developed, emotionally immature, corny script, which I felt was a crime against the film industry! Sadly I have to say the same about the direction - who was telling who the story? ( What unbalanced story there was!) It was muddled, heavy handed and corny. My heart goes out to the actors who played the Aryan Couple. They struggled valiantly throughout, but even with the obviously good skills of both, ( Kenny Doughty, Caroline Carver) this old fashioned dinosaur of a film struggled to get going. The best bits were when they were on the screen, which to my opinion was far too little. Both deserve much better.

A Brilliant Film

[Doogiebee · 10/10 · 8 August 2007]

I've seen just about every movie and documentary about the Third Reich but this added a new dimension. The Polish settings were beautiful, the attention to detail in vehicles and costumes remarkable, and the lighting, camera angles and music magnificent. Martin Landau was perfect as the wise old businessman setting up the ingenious plan to guarantee the safety of his family and his new unexpected adopted family. This movie steered clear of the depressing realities of the holocaust, which were more than ably depicted in Schindler's List and Life is Beautiful, and focused on the greed of the Nazis and the ability of some Jews to use this greed to their advantage. If nothing else, the performance of Richard Bremmer in the closing scene is outstanding. Icy cold, gaunt and totally unemotional, a stereotypical Nazi monster, his final actions in the movie are surprising and unforgettable. Kudos to the casting director for this stroke of genius. If you're a Nazi film buff, this movie is unmissable.

war drama

[andrew-cathcart-1 · 1/10 · 11 January 2010]

This type of film, English actors speaking with Southern English accents dressed up in Nazi uniforms, acting beastly, together with extras who have been told to act glum have been artfully brought together in one film - the director shoots the sequences as if he's following the pages of a cartoon book. I watched some 10-15 minutes of this tripe becoming increasingly irritated and disappointed that I wasted my money and and then by watching the stuff I was wasting my time. A story told by film has to grip and hold my attention for the duration. My attention is diluted by unconvincing dialogue, stylised acting by principals and/or extras and camera angles that suddenly intrude upon the narrative.

The true story deserves to be produced on film by people who respect the trauma that real people endured and their heroic efforts to survive those times. There are films that convincingly portray the period, notably the Russian film 'Come and See'the German film 'Europa Europa' the Hungarian film 'Zelary.' Even films in which English displaces the language used in the original story can be credible, because the Director and Actors are talented, for example, 'The Pianist' and 'Schindler's List.'

What would be the motives of the people who brought this story to the screen? are two films that told the story

Very Amauter, Poorly Cast, Ridiculous Story!

[TheEmulator23 · 3/10 · 19 January 2007]

People that have absolutely no idea what a good story, or good acting is, trying to make a movie. That sums up this complete waste of money. I remember Martin Landau as a good actor, but it really goes to show that you are only as good as your director. The only reason why this even gets a 3, is because of the fantastic set pieces, and wonderful authentic WWII vehicles. I see why it opened in 18 theaters and I had never heard of it. It made a paltry 260K WORLDWIDE! It is a real shame when so many people, particularly the director, (who produced the classic Oscar winning "Platoon" among others) think they know how to make a film, but don't bother with a STORY! It is really sad to me when films like this are made. I find it really impressive that so many people can be convinced to make such a terrible film. I know I would be embarrassed to have been any part of this film. I just hope we see Martin Landau in something good again before he's gone.

Brilliant movie

[london-return11 · 9/10 · 17 June 2012]

I would rank this movie along with Quentin Tarantino's Inglorious Bastards as one of the best war time movies. It was without doubt a thriller. You should however gloss over some liberties taken in the script related to knowledge of concentration camps, the camaraderie and parleying on equal terms with the Nazis etc., Every frame was nail baiting one. There were a lot of twists and turns throughout. The brutality of Nazi Germany is revealed without any gross exhibition. No Blood, no hanging, no bodies lying around. The movie begins with shots of the Auschwitz museum. It gradually catches pace keeping you engrossed throughout. I will watch this movie again after 6 months for its sheer adrenalin rush. There was this commentator who listed out a number of errors related to custom, wrong airplane. Come on guys, this is a movie. Allow the Director/Script Writer to take some liberty so that he can make the movie enjoyable. If you want 100 accuracy you need to watch a documentary not a fictional movie.

Good film ruined by horrible directing

[acerkc · 2/10 · 19 November 2005]

The script was incredible.

The story was extremely engaging.

The actors did wonderful, in-depth jobs.

The editing ruined it all. You could literally see the microphone above the main characters during the last 30 minutes of this movie. It was a huge distraction to everyone in the theater. Also, the actor's mouths were cut off in most of the last half of the movie. This is by far the worst editing that I have ever seen in any movie, low-budget to big budget. How could they not notice the bobbing microphone in those last scenes? How could they justify only seeing the cheekbones and foreheads of the characters? For all producers out there, do not ever, ever, ever hire the people that created this film. They completely ruined a film that had Oscar-worthy written all over it.

A strong performance by an English Fürher

[sergeheyrman · 8/10 · 29 August 2006]

A very nice casting by good actors unfortunately they didn't speak German. I find it very hard to trow my self in to the movie knowing that a bunch of English actors with there Scottish accents are playing the part of a Fürher etc.

But despite the fact the are English it was a very realistic movie with a flow of drama action and occasionally a bit of dark humor (not that I am a Nazi lover ore something).

it's just a great family movie where you can think and talk about afterward and it stays in your head for a couple of days and you will probably have something like... hmm I am glad that i live int the 20 century A movie to watch or even to buy!