The Counterfeit Traitor is a 1962 espionage thriller film starring William Holden, Hugh Griffith, and Lilli Palmer. Holden plays an American-born Swedish citizen who is forced to spy on the Nazis in World War II. It was based on a nonfiction book of the same name by Alexander Klein. The film was directed by George Seaton.[2]
| The Counterfeit Traitor | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | George Seaton |
| Written by | Charles Grenzbach George Seaton |
| Based on | The Counterfeit Traitor by Alexander Klein |
| Produced by | George Seaton William Perlberg |
| Starring | William Holden Lilli Palmer Hugh Griffith Carl Raddatz |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.7 million (US/Canada)[1] |
Plot edit
Erickson (Holden) is an American-born Swedish oil man who is pressured by Allied intelligence agents, led by a British agent (Griffith), to spy for the Allies. Erickson begins his job reluctantly, as it causes marital discord and forces him to pose as a Nazi. He agrees because otherwise his business would be destroyed by the Allies, but over time, realizes it is the right thing to do. Besides, Griffith recorded the meeting,
He is influenced in making this moral decision by one of his contacts in Germany, a religious woman (Lilli Palmer) who gives him guidance on the meaning of life and right and wrong. Erickson has a number of close calls, but eventually escapes to Sweden in a harrowing sea voyage.
Cast edit
- William Holden - Eric Erickson
- Lilli Palmer - Frau Marianne Möllendorf
- Hugh Griffith - Collins
- Carl Raddatz - Otto Holtz
- Ulf Palme - Max Gumpel
- Ernst Schröder - Baron Gerhard von Oldenburg
- Charles Régnier - Wilhelm Kortner
- Ingrid van Bergen - Hulda Windler
- Helo Gutschwager - Hans Holtz
- Wolfgang Preiss - Colonel Nordoff
- Werner Peters - Bruno Ulrich
- Erica Beer - Klara Holtz
- Stefan Schnabel - Gestapo agent at funeral
- Klaus Kinski - Kindler, Jewish Refugee
- Jochen Blume - Dr. Jacob Karp
- Erik Schumann - Nazi Gunboat Officer
- Dirk Hansen - Lieutenant Nagler
- Poul Reichhardt - Fishing Boat Skipper
- Ludwig Naybert - Stationmaster
- Louis Miehe-Renard - Poul
- Kai Holm - Gunnar
- Jens Østerholm - Lars
- Eva Dahlbeck - Ingrid Erickson
See also edit
- List of American films of 1962
- Eric Erickson, the real-life spy on whom the book and film are based[2]
References edit
- ^ "Big Rental Pictures of 1962". Variety. 9 Jan 1963. p. 13. Please note these are rentals and not gross figures
- ^ a b "Alexander Klein, 83; Wrote Spy Thriller (obituary)". New York Times. August 24, 2002. Retrieved 2007-11-16.
External links edit
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