everything you have heard about this movie is true.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

In the first part of the movie we see Holden taking centre stage and his dry calm manner is a superb way of showing the true horrors of war - caused by normal men involved in horrendous events in a normal way.The pacing is masterful and the actions and plot are very believable.Unfortunately the movie unravels as it runs and becomes a soppy run-of- the-mill escape film with the usual characters and poorly delivered performancesI would give the first part of the film an 8 and the last third or so a 6 so it earns a seven from me. It is a pity that the team didn't maintain the level they started with and produce a masterpiece.

When I hear the title THE COUNTERFEIT TRAITOR, I immediately think of my father because he often said it was his favorite spy film.Seeing it, years later, I understand why. WILLIAM HOLDEN was in the middle of a winning streak of films at this time and establishing a secure foothold on his reputation as one of Hollywood's finest actors.Since his role requires him to start as a cynical character, before he becomes convinced of the justness of his cause, it's a role that might well have gone to someone like HUMPHREY BOGART. But Holden, fortunately, got the part of the Swedish oil merchant who, through extortion and blackmail, is chosen by HUGH GRIFFITH to act as a spy against the Nazis in Denmark.He does so, unwillingly at first, but gradually, through his meeting with another spy, LILI PALMER (in one of her best roles), comes to see things the way she does. The moment Palmer comes into the film, the plot thickens and interest mounts. The final result is a spy film that is truly mesmerizing, able to get a powerful grip on your heart and emotions, full of colorful action and intrigue.Stunning location photography in and around Copenhagen is a plus factor, as is the rousing score by Alfred Newman. Holden has never been more persuasive in a role that fits him like a glove.Taken from a true-life story, espionage tales don't come any better than this.

The picture captures the true feeling of the war and the heroic attempt of a few people to contribute to the destruction of a dictatorship.The line " you can read about a hundred atrocities, hear about a thousand, but you only have to see one" will always stay with me.I wonder why Eric Erickson has not been mentioned in history as a hero of World War Two? He was very similar to Oscar Shindler. I would hope that the real story of Eric Erickson is told some day. Lilli Palmer was wonderful and injected the reality of the war inside Germany throughout the picture. She was the most believable of all the characters. The scenes in the prison and her character's death were very realistic and left you with how helpless they were under the Nazi regime.Next to " The Bridge On The River Kwai" this is William Holden's best picture.

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.