Betrayed (1954 film)
| Betrayed | |
|---|---|
 Promotional movie poster for the film | |
| Directed by | Gottfried Reinhardt |
| Written by |
Ronald Millar George Froeschel |
| Starring |
Clark Gable Lana Turner Victor Mature |
| Music by |
Walter Goehr Bronislau Kaper |
| Cinematography | Freddie Young |
| Edited by |
John D. Dunning Raymond Poulton |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates |
|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,674,000[1] |
| Box office | $4,177,000[1] |
Betrayed is a 1954 war drama film directed by Gottfried Reinhardt from a screenplay by Ronald Millar and George Froeschel, and starring Clark Gable, Lana Turner, and Victor Mature. The music score was by Walter Goehr and Bronislau Kaper, and the cinematography by Freddie Young. The picture, Gable's last for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, was filmed on location in the Netherlands and England and was based on the story of turncoat Dutch resistance leader Christiaan Lindemans, also known as "King Kong". The supporting cast features Louis Calhern, O. E. Hasse, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Ian Carmichael, Niall MacGinnis, and Theodore Bikel. Betrayed was the fourth and final movie in which Gable played opposite Turner, and their third pairing set during World War II.
Diana Coupland provided Turner's singing voice in the song, "Johnny Come Home".
Betrayed was spoofed in the film Top Secret! (1984).[2]
Plot
Betrayed is an espionage thriller set in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, and revolves mostly around the Dutch resistance movement.
Dutch intelligence agent Pieter Deventer (Clark Gable) is ordered to keep an eye on suspected collaborator Fran Seelers (Lana Turner). Both Deventer and Seelers join the Dutch underground, making contact with a flamboyant resistance leader known as "The Scarf" (Victor Mature).
As 'Carla Van Oven', Seelers' assignment is to use her feminine charms to gain the confidence of admiring Nazi officers. Within the next few weeks, several underground operatives are captured and shot, and it begins to look as though Deventer's suspicions concerning Seelers are correct, though he is strongly drawn to her. The ultimate revelation of the collaborator's identity settles the issue of whether the couple can be enemies or lovers.
Cast
- Clark Gable as Colonel Pieter Deventer
- Lana Turner as Carla Van Oven
- Victor Mature as "The Scarf"
- Louis Calhern as General Ten Eyck
- O.E. Hasse as Colonel Helmuth Dietrich
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as General Charles Larraby
- Ian Carmichael as Captain Jackie Lawson
- Niall MacGinnis as "Blackie"
- Nora Swinburne as The "Scarf's" Mother
- Roland Culver as General Warsleigh
- Leslie Weston as "Pop"
- Christopher Rhodes as Chris
- Lily Kann as Jan's Grandmother
- Brian Smith as Jan
- Anton Diffring as Captain Von Stanger
Production
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The film was at one stage known as The True and the Brave with Kirk Douglas mentioned as a possible star.[3] Richard Widmark was at one stage a forerunner for the part played by Victor Mature.[4] Ava Gardner was to play the female lead but was eventually replaced by Lana Turner.[5]
Filming took place in late 1953 and early 1954, on location in Holland and England.[6]
It was the last film Gable made for MGM under his contract with them, which ended in March 1954.[7]
Release
Box Office
According to MGM records the film earned $1,966,000 in the US and Canada and $2,211,000 overseas, resulting in a profit of $821,000.[1]
Critical reception
In a 1954 New York Times review, critic Bosley Crowther wrote "By the time this picture gets around to figuring out whether the betrayer is Miss Turner or Mr. Mature, it has taken the audience through such a lengthy and tedious amount of detail that it has not only frayed all possible tension but it has aggravated patience as well. Miss Turner and Mr. Gable have had many long-winded talks; Mr. Mature has thumped his chest like Tarzan and bellowed his boasts a score of times. An excess of espionage maneuvering has been laid out on the screen. The beauties of the countryside of the Netherlands have been looked at until they pall."[2]
Home media
Betrayed was released on DVD and digital download on March 23, 2009 as part of the Warner Archive.[8]
References
- 1 2 3 The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- 1 2 http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D05E0DC1538E23BBC4153DFBF66838F649EDE
- ↑ Schallert, E. (1953, Jul 30). River boat perennial bought; london tale of reincarnation set. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/166494673
- ↑ Schallert, E. (1953, Aug 28). Vistarama exhibited; justin rival of power, spy role for widmark. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/166536709
- ↑ U.S. GROUP TO LEAVE FOR FILM IN AFRICA: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews Will Make 'Duel in Jungle' in Kruger National Park Special to THE NEW YORK TIMES.. New York Times (1923-Current file) [New York, N.Y] 18 July 1953: 6
- ↑ By THOMAS M PRYORSpecial to THE NEW,YORK TIMES. (1954, Jan 27). CHAMPION TO FILM E. E. HALE CLASSIC. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/113154208
- ↑ By THOMAS M PRYORSpecial to THE NEW,YORK TIMES. (1953, Dec 18). GREER GARSON TO DO A MOVIE IN ENGLAND. New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/112727444
- ↑ http://www.wbshop.com/Betrayed-+EST-MOD/1000088122,default,pd.html
External links
- Betrayed at the Internet Movie Database
- Betrayed at the TCM Movie Database