Wallenberg: A Hero's Story

My hommage to Richard Chamberlain continues.

Chamberlain plays the eponymous real-life hero, who disappeared in 1947. No one is sure when he died.

The film shows Wallenberg's tireless work to save Jews while holding the position of Sweden's special envoy in Budapest between July and December 1944. The Nazis called it "turning Jews into Swedes" because he issued "protective passports" that identified the carrier as a Swedish subject. He housed Jews in rented buildings.

The movie has a quasi romance between Wallenberg and Baroness Elisabeth Kemeny (Alice Krige) which was probably false. However, she believed in Wallenberg's work and was instrumental in encouraging her husband, the Hungarian minister for Foreign Affairs to have travel passes honored when the Germans declared them invalid.

Any film showing the plight of the Jews is harrowing and tragic. This is no different, with dialogue from Eichmann (Kenneth Koley) and others showing their contempt and inhumanity.

In Chamberlain's earnest portrayal, he exhibits no understanding of such cruelty, and his attempts to reason with the Germans leave him baffled. They think nothing of exterminating Jews, even young children.

Sadly I was reminded of today, when some people are lumped together in one group and no longer thought of as human beings. What emerged for me was the despair that we've learned nothing.

My only problem was all the accents. When your in a foreign country, you don't walk around speaking English with a foreign accent. You speak your own language. Though this was set in different places, Wallenberg understood other languages, and would have been speaking in them. Accents are not necessary. Otherwise, Romeo and Juliet would be speaking with Italian accents.

A compelling, thought-provoking film, with a strong performance by Chamberlain as a righteous among nations.

The story itself is by now well-known, but at the time of this production, very few holocaust stories had been filmed. There are some decent scenarios but overall the acting, dialogue and relationships stretch believability. Not a great version of this important event, since a few documentaries have come out since, but being a fan of the lovely Richard Chamberlain, I enjoy seeing him in anything, no matter how mediocre or bland. The acting reminded me of early 40-50s type movies and although the period details are usually pretty authentic (buildings, cars, costumes), the general feel of this mini-series is 'amateurish' and a bit lazy. Still, an ok way to spend some time and learn a few things about this tragic episode of WW2.

This movie is truly remarkable. It is a complete mystery to me why I can't find it for sale---when there is such drivel available in so many venues. If anyone has ideas I would truly appreciate it. I'd pay $50 if I could find it. Maybe I should copy all of these comments and send them to Blockbuster's CEO.

I am intrigued by one viewer's comments that this movie inspired controversy. Chamberlain is retired but surely he doesn't regret this effort. He did an outstanding job.

I made my kids watch this when it was on AMC once---surely someone can take this video and cut some DVDs.

I'm amazed that the Holocaust museums and the different Wallenberg foundations and related organizations don't have this for sale as an educational vehicle.

I loved this movie and for years I have been trying to get a copy of it. Will it ever be on TV again? Can anyone tell me? Richard Chamberlain as Raoul Wallenberg, is at his very best. Wallenberg was a man overlooked for the most part in our history of World War 2 The movie was done in just the right color and location. It was an excellent film. I wish it would be made possible to view it again.

Super outstanding film dealing with the exploits of Swedish diplomat, Raoul Wallenberg. He saved a great number of Hungarian Jews marked for extermination during the Holocaust.

Richard Chamberlain was never better in any of his mini-series. Proudly nicknamed the king of mini-series, Chamberlain etched an unforgettable portrayal of this hero for all times.

The story begins as Chamberlain, a young Swedish college student from an affluent family, mocks Adolf Hitler. Truth be told, the world didn't know the horrors that this all-time modern madman would heap on modern civilization.

How Chamberlain (Wallenberg) ran with Swedish documents and passed them out to Hungarian Jews was memorable. Instantaneously, the Hungarian Jews were Swedish citizens and therefore protected under Swedish authority.

Remember the miracle when, at the end of the war, many Hungarian Jews lost their protection and were placed in a barn that the Nazis were ready to blow up. Who can forget their faces as they huddled together and chanted the "shema" to sanctify the al-mighty's name? It would be left to Wallenberg to rescue them at the last minute from certain death.

Needless to say, the world was a much poorer place when Wallenberg was arrested by the Soviets,imprisoned, and never heard from again.

He is certainly a leading member of the righteous-those Christians who risked their lives to save Jews during the darkest period of history in this century.

Chamberlain gave a phenomenal performance which will long be remembered.