Watch The Counterfeit Traitor

The Counterfeit Traitor is a 1962 American film directed by George Seaton and based on a book by Alexander Klein. The movie stars William Holden, Lilli Palmer, and Hugh Griffith, and tells the story of Eric Erickson, a Swedish oil businessman living in neutral Sweden during World War II, who agrees to trade with the Germans in order to learn their secrets and help the Allies win the war.

The movie is based on a true story, and it accurately portrays the dangers and difficulties of working as a spy during the war. Holden is outstanding in the role of Eric Erickson, a man who is torn between his desire to help the Allies and his fear of being caught and killed by the Germans. He does an excellent job of portraying Erickson's moral struggles and his transformation from a reluctant spy into a committed one.

Lilli Palmer is equally excellent in the role of Marianne, a German woman who falls in love with Erickson and helps him infiltrate the German secret service. Palmer's performance is nuanced and complex, and she brings a depth and humanity to the character that could have easily been one-dimensional.

The movie also benefits from strong supporting performances by Hugh Griffith as Colonel Steinhager, the German officer who recruits Erickson as a spy, and Carl Raddatz as Kahlenberg, the head of the German secret service. Griffith brings a sense of menace and danger to the role of Steinhager, while Raddatz is convincing as the cold and calculating Kahlenberg.

The Counterfeit Traitor is a tense and suspenseful movie that keeps the audience on the edge of their seat throughout. There are several gripping plot twists, and the movie does an excellent job of conveying the danger and uncertainty of life during the war. The scenes set in Germany are particularly effective, as they show the brutality and despair of life under Nazi rule.

The movie is also noteworthy for its attention to detail and accuracy. The filmmakers went to great lengths to recreate the period accurately, and the movie is filled with authentic locations, vehicles, and costumes. The scenes set in Sweden are particularly beautiful, as they show the stunning landscapes and architecture of the country.

The movie is not without its flaws, however. Some of the dialogue is a bit stilted and dated, and the pacing is slow at times. The movie could also benefit from more well-rounded female characters, as both Marianne and Erickson's wife are somewhat underdeveloped.

Overall, however, The Counterfeit Traitor is an excellent movie that is well worth watching. It is a tense and suspenseful spy thriller that accurately portrays the dangers and difficulties of working as a spy during World War II. The movie is elevated by outstanding performances by William Holden and Lilli Palmer, who bring a depth and complexity to their characters. If you're a fan of spy movies or World War II movies, The Counterfeit Traitor is definitely worth checking out.

The Counterfeit Traitor is a 1962 war movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 20 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.