Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

The Counterfeit Traitor Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 1, 2022

George Seaton's "The Counterfeit Traitor" (1962) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new audio commentary by writer Julie Kirgo and remastered vintage trailer for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Closely observed lovers

William Holden’s calm and confident voice could have belonged to an elusive WWII spy -- an American spy. However, Holden’s character, Eric Erickson, would have never tricked even a most inexperienced Gestapo agent to conclude that he was anything else but an American pretending to be someone else. This is the crucial flaw at the center of the complex story that is told in George Seaton’s film The Counterfeit Traitor.

Immediately after the opening credits disappear Holden begins reconstructing his character’s past and explaining who he is in the present. Erickson was born and raised in America, but relocated to Sweden, traded his American passport for a Swedish passport, and became one of Scandinavia’s biggest oil exporters. After WWII started, Sweden remained neutral and Erickson’s business grew even bigger because he was able to trade with both sides in the conflict, which is why he has just been approached by the Allies with an offer to work for them. The offer is non-negotiable. If Erickson turns it down, the Allies will supply his German business partners with photos confirming that he is already dealing with the people that made the offer, all of which happen to be well-known spies with long records at Gestapo. Shortly after, Erickson is told what his mission would be and instructed to establish contact with Marianne Mollendorf (Lilli Palmer), a German socialite with plenty of valuable contacts residing in Berlin. Mollendorf, who is risking her life for the Allies as well, will introduce Erikson to high-ranking German officials and be his ‘mistress’ away from Sweden, making his future frequent trips to Germany entirely legit.

While attending social events with Mollendorf, Erikson gradually reveals a newly discovered admiration for Adolf Hitler’s grand vision of Europe, and through new acquaintances begins gathering information about Germany’s strategic oil reserves and industrial development. Erickson then successfully forces his oldest German business partner (Earnst Schroder) to become a spy for the Allies with the same tricks that were used on him as well. However, back home in Sweden his political activism quickly isolates him and begins hurting his business.

As Erickson’s professional relationship with Mollendorf evolves into a romantic relationship, a mole at the very top of the Resistance tips the Gestapo that they are both chameleons reporting to the Allies.

Holden’s character isn’t fictional. It is inspired by a true double agent whose exploits are described in a novel written by Alexander Klein in 1958. Seaton adapted the original material from the novel and directed The Counterfeit Traitor in 1962.

In the film, the chronology of the main events that are described in the novel remains the same and, more importantly, many of these events are recreated at the real locations where Erickson did his work as a spy. Unsurprisingly, the period environment that the film produces is very good. This is quite an accomplishment because at this particular phase of the war neutral Sweden, Germany, and occupied Denmark had very unique appearances.

Unfortunately, Holden was not the right actor to play Erickson. Indeed, his presence before the camera is such that it instantly creates the impression that he is a great Hollywood actor imposing his personality on the spy and redefining his image. As a result, his troubles and much of the suspense that they are a part of frequently look unconvincing. In some of the areas where the disconnect is most obvious, it even looks like Holden is nonchalantly transitioning from a completely different time period. (As odd as it may sound, if one looks carefully enough, one would recognize plenty of similarities between the jaded characters Holden plays in The Counterfeit Traitor and Breezy. They have the same Hollywood-esque personality and even sound extremely similar. In other words, Holden is Holden in two completely different environments).

The large supporting cast isn’t brilliantly used either. For example, initially, Schroder looks a lot like a veteran member of an old British gentleman’s club, not a German baron, and it is only when Holden corners him that he reveals the authentic personality his character needs. Hugh Griffith simply does not look or sound like a man capable of intimidating the future spy. Klaus Kinski has a curious but ultimately very underwhelming cameo. Palmer was the perfect choice for her deceivingly transparent character, but once the crucial connection with Holden is established, she begins acting in a lavish Hollywood romantic melodrama rather than an authentic spy melodrama.

The Counterfeit Traitor Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, The Counterfeit Traitor arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Kino Lorber.

Earlier this year, we reviewed this Australian release of The Counterfeit Traitor produced by Via Vision Entertainment. This release was sourced from an old and quite weak master. Kino Lorber's release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was prepared by Paramount Pictures.

Because there is so much that was done right on the new 4K master, I would like to mention first the few areas where some additional improvements and enhancements could have been made for optimal results. The surface of the visuals occasionally reveals tiny blemishes and specks. They are so small that I consider them insignificant, but I have to mention them because they are there. In other words, there is room for small cosmetic work. Also, I noticed a few areas with very small color pulsations that are inherited. In a full-blown restoration, digital tools can be used to introduce specific enhancements and eliminate them completely. This isn't a big issue either. (You can see an example of the small pulsations during the meeting between William Holden and Lilli Palmer in the tiny apartment. Screencapture #21 is from the same sequence). Finally, there is room for minor encoding optimizations that could have ensured stronger and more consistent grain exposure. The rest looks great. I think that the parties at Paramount Pictures that scanned the original camera negative and created the new 4K master did an outstanding job. Delineation, clarity, and depth are very strong. Image stability is very good. The entire master is beautifully graded as well. The primaries look solid but not boosted, there are wonderful ranges of supporting nuances, and in darker areas shadow definition is very nicely managed. I did not see any crushing and this film has plenty of very tricky areas, so the color balance and overall temperature of the visuals looked outstanding on my system. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Counterfeit Traitor Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the entire film with the English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. It is immediately obvious that the audio has been newly transferred because clarity and sharpness are dramatically better than what I heard on the recent Australian release of The Counterfeit Traitor. Also, I tested the English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track and I wish there was some information about its creation because it is very easy to tell that this track isn't a random one. I assume that when it was created someone attempted to do very particular things with the original soundtrack of the film, so the track is not a quick upmix that was put together to meet the expectations of folks with 5.1 (and more elaborate) audio systems. Both tracks sound very healthy now.

The Counterfeit Traitor Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - an original U.S. theatrical trailer for The Counterfeit Traitor. Newly remastered. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by writer Julie Kirgo.

The Counterfeit Traitor Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Despite the generally great-looking footage from neutral Sweden, Germany, and occupied Denmark, The Counterfeit Traitor is awfully difficult to praise as an authentic WWII film. William Holden gives the reluctant spy Eric Erickson a personality that would have been just as appropriate for the various contemporary characters he played in Hollywood around the same time. Many of the supporting European actors contribute in a similar manner as well. It is why The Counterfeit Traitor frequently seems more convincing as a big-budget made-in-Hollywood romantic melodrama, occasionally even an exotic adventure film, rather than a historically accurate film. Kino Lorber's Blu-ray release is sourced from an exclusive new 4K master that was prepared at Paramount Pictures. I think that this master is very solid and gives The Counterfeit Traitor a very attractive and, more importantly, convincing organic appearance. If you enjoy the film, this is the release to own. RECOMMENDED.