Excellent Word War II espionage drama
“The Counterfeit Traitor” deals with political and moral complexities that are often overlooked in Hollywood movies. Based on a true story, this World War II drama views patriotism and heroism from a mostly untapped perspective.<br /><br />Swedish-American oil dealer Eric Erickson (William Holden) gave up his American citizenship when he established permanent residence in Sweden and married a Swedish woman. Sweden had maintained neutrality in the war, so Erickson often dealt with the Nazis. He begins a side career in espionage when he’s blackmailed by British agent Collins (Hugh Griffith) into using his access to the German military to gather information that will be shared by the Allies. As a pretext for weekly visits to a highly placed SS officer he devises a fake refinery deal. To be credible as a Nazi sympathizer, Erickson must alienate friends and his wife as he persuades German associates to work for him. He goes along with what’s expected of him reluctantly, until he falls in love with a key contact, Marianne Mollendorf (Lilli Palmer), who makes him realize the value of his work.<br /><br />Erickson is a practical businessman who easily remains neutral, not responsive to the propaganda of either side, until he witnesses for himself a Nazi atrocity, an impromptu public hanging to thwart a factory workers’ strike. Erickson is helpless, as the Nazis have total power to kill anyone who opposes them. Despite this memorable moment, not all the Germans are portrayed as cold-blooded killers, as in most earlier World War II films. And the British are depicted as ruthless in using any means necessary to draw in people who can gain access to military information vital to the Allied war effort. Many of the German friends that Erickson exploits have joined the Nazis because to do otherwise would be disastrous to their lives and the lives of their loved ones.<br /><br />Filmed in Sweden, Germany, and Denmark, “The Counterfeit Traitor” has a large cast and benefits from a visually interesting forward narrative. The many intricacies of the story are dispatched efficiently in voice-overs by Holden. Through a series of scenes, writer/director George Seaton (“The Country Girl,” “Airport”) shows how much risk Erickson faces at every turn. This creates palpable dramatic tension as a number of events nearly expose him.<br /><br />One aspect of the story strains believability. When Erickson begins to display pro-Nazi sentiments to establish his credibility with the Germans, his wife (Eva Dahlbeck) leaves him, yet he seems far more troubled by having to publicly spurn a Jewish friend. The dissolution of his marriage seems a minor inconvenience rather than an emotional blow.<br /><br />Holden and Palmer have good screen chemistry. We can believe that his Erickson is the perfect cover for a spy. To the Germans, Erickson is all about enriching his oil business and Germany is his prime customer. His lack of political involvement marks him as neutral, and his freedom to travel back and forth to Germany is clearly for business. Holden spent a long career playing heroic leading men. Here, he’s the reluctant hero—the target of blackmail who comes to see how vital it is that the Allies prevail.<br /><br />Palmer is lovely and conveys class and sophistication. Marianne’s Catholic religion becomes a significant plot point because her work as a spy has led  the death of innocent children, and this weighs heavily on her. She is disenchanted with her role and wants out. Seductive in early scenes, she is a mass of nerves and insecurities later on. The romantic relationship between Erickson and Marianne occurs very quickly and is in the film more to personalize the danger to both of them than to move the plot forward. In fact, the romantic scenes slow the picture to a crawl and interrupt brisk momentum.<br /><br />The best thing about “The Counterfeit Traitor,” based on the book by Alexander Klein, is its outstanding script. Seaton’s direction is effective, if not especially showy. He allows his first-rate cast to take center stage. If somewhat lengthy at 2 house and 21 minutes, the film nonetheless draws us in and sustains our attention as Erickson plays a constant game of cat and mouse, risking discovery, capture, and death.<br /><br />Bonus materials on the Limited Edition Imprint Blu-ray release include:<br />Audio commentary by Lee Pfeiffer, publisher of Cinema Retro magazine, with film historian Paul Scrabo<br />William Holden: The Golden Boy - 1989 Documentary<br />Theatrical Trailer<br />Photo Gallery
The movie title "The Counterfeit Traitor," available on Movies & TV, has received an average rating of 4.6 from 523 reviewers. 
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 {"Genre": "Action & Adventure", "Format": "Import", "Contributor": "Ernst Schr\u00f6der, Wolfgang Preiss, Carl Raddatz, Ingrid van Bergen, George Seaton, Klaus Kinski, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Griffith, Charles Regnier, Erica Beer, Werner Peters, William HoldenErnst Schr\u00f6der, Wolfgang Preiss, Carl Raddatz, Ingrid van Bergen, George Seaton, Klaus Kinski, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Griffith, Charles Regnier, Erica Beer, Werner Peters, William Holden   See more", "Language": "English", "Runtime": "141 minutes"}

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