Zev A very good spy thriller despite its age. Its treatment of the Germans, the Allies and the love affair is surprisingly sophisticated with many shades of gray and many interesting characters and an unexpected ending to the love affair. Based on a true story, it tells the tale of an American-born Swedish citizen who is coerced into spying for the allies and who soon adopts the cause for other reasons. The spy-craft, and the many deceptions and tricks are quite believable.But for some reason I wasn't accepting the movie as the flawless work that it seemed to be, and found it difficult to define why, at first.For one thing, the constant narration is pretty annoying. They should have just shown the story instead of having him feed us the story.Holden, as Erickson, seemed a bit flat as a character. But then it struck me: I just couldn't tune in to him as a character because I could not understand his motivations. They portray him as a cold businessman at first, coerced into spying, yet he acts way way beyond someone who has been blackmailed. I could not understand why he not only fully co-operated at first, but even contributed beyond the minimum and never looked for a way out. As another example of strange behaviour, he could have treated his friend differently after the staged betrayal was performed for the Nazis, and after he proved himself a loyal friend. But he just followed his instructions blindly even though there was no danger. In fact, he could have avoided danger by telling him it was an act, seeing as his friend didn't believe him anyways. They also used the blackmail trick a bit too often on many characters, and I never understood why they all gave in so easily. I thought of several ways they could have found a way out so why couldn't they try as well? In short, these behaviour flaws bothered me. But it's definitely worth a watch nevertheless, and it may even impress you as a forgotten classic.

SnoopyStyle It's WWII. Former American Eric Erickson (William Holden) is blacklisted by the US for importing oil from Germany while living in neutral Sweden. He gave up his US Citizenship back in 1930. He's approached by Collins to spy on the Germans in exchange for getting out of the blacklist. He comes up with a fantasy to build refineries in Sweden for Germany to infiltrate the Nazi world using his friend Baron von Oldenburg. Collins keeps pushing him to gather intel and recruit others. He is surprised to find his contact in Germany is the Nazi fanatic Marianne Möllendorf. He recruits the Baron by blackmailing him through his POW son in Russia. He recruits refinery manager Otto Holtz by giving him a letter despite his fanatical young boy. Wilhelm Kortner discovers his espionage but Eric turns the table and blackmails him instead.It's based on the real Eric Erickson. It has some interesting espionage bits and some great scenes. I would really like to lose the narration although I understand the need to explain his inner thoughts. There is just too much narration especially in the beginning and it doesn't stop. It's also a long movie that could be tightened up. It needs to maintain a higher level of tension all the way through. However the real spy story is very compelling and the movie is able to translate some of that onto the screen.

Ed in St. Louis I first saw "The Conterfeit Traitor" when I was a teenager, and I remember how much I enjoyed it then. I hadn't seen it since, and I tuned in to it about halfway on TCM. I was ready to dismiss my liking the film as a folly of my youth because it seemed to be slow and overacted. However, I stuck with it and I'm happy I did. The film really began to move when William Holden's love interest was arrested by the Gestapo, and it became emotionally absorbing to its end. The last hour of the film is as good as anything I've ever seen about the Second World War. I was particularly fascinated by a scene where the Danish unite against the Nazis in a nonviolent protest with no weapons except bicycles and bells. The small part of Klaus Kinsky is also very touching. I highly recommend this film.

JANA-7 This movie lives up to the catch name "Sleeper". When it first appeared in theatres, I wasin the USAF, stationed in Thule, Greenland. Advertisment and Publicity for this film must have been meager. It is a powerfully done World War 11 drama with an exceptional European cast. Holden is at his fiery best as a Sweedish Oil magnate duped into spying for the allies. Lili Palmer stunningly beautiful as Holden's contact and love interest. European locations and a good script of a true story make this spy adventure a top 1960s - must see.