Chef de réseau

The amazing thing about this film is its actuality - it's a true story, general Schottland was actually a British spy in Germany from 1914 to the end of the second world war, with high responsibilities as a general and trusted implicitly by Hitler himself. The one fellow officer who didn't trust him is played by Alexander Knox who makes a fearful Nazi bully and idiot. Gia Scala plays the woman, a singer in a relationship with Jack Hawkins and others, and there is a traumatic story very similar to "The Counterfeit Traitor" with William Holden and Lilli Palmer some years later, but this is in black and white and sticks very strictly to realism, postponing true romance till after the war, if possible. The situation of general Schottland is hair-raising. His responsibility was tremendous, and he had the power and means to obstruct several of the most vital operations of the Germans during the war, for example the outcome of the battle of the Ardennes, actually causing immense casualties, and that's the shocking insight of this film - you learn how little millions of human lives mattered to officers in charge of the war. They are perfectly strict in casualness, and if one mark with a pen means the sacrifice of millions, it's for them just a mark of the pen. Jack Hawkings keeps up a terrible balance, constantly throwing a glance behind his back, constantly watched by the Gestapo, and ultimately no longer able to suppress his humanity. It's a great film on a small scale and definietely an enduring classic for all times.

This is an exciting movie! I could not imagine that it can be so good. Jack Hawkins is incredibly good in the role of Gen. Alex Schottland and Gia Scala has charm and is very natural in the role of the singer Lily Geyr, some kind of Mata-Hari. A unique movie in the genre Drama, Thriller, War, an exceptional achievement from all points of view.

First of all, thanks to DavidGPS of GB for rectifying what we already knew - that Germany pioneered magnetic tape in the late 1930s. Now lets get to this little-known Jack Hawkins film. Andre DeToth made some excellent movies in his time, but this true story was as gritty as it got in 1958. There are some very hard to stomach scenes of a tyrannical and evil police state at war - not for the squeamish or children, by any means. Among the greatest of WWII movies, Hawkins depicts General Schottland, a British native of German decent who came back to the Fatherland during WW1 and fought in the German ranks. As a result, he was able to infiltrate the German High Command and even became trusted by Hitler. As he became a valued and important source of information to the British, he also endangered himself and all those who helped him. There were some really great WWII movies, but this one has you on the edge of your seat and riveted to the screen for the entire duration. Definitely my favorite Jack Hawkins movie of all time, and hats off to DeToth for daring to be so bold as to show how ruthless the Nazis really were.

"The Two-Headed Spy" is a story based on an actual spy within the German high command during WWII. However, according to IMDB, most of the story is sadly fictionalized...making this a not-so-true true story. In fact, when I did read up on the man, I found nearly ALL the film to be made up!! It's a shame, as the story is pretty exciting...just all false.

Jack Hawkins plays General Alex Schottland, a man who has a British and a German parent. During WWI, he served in the German army with distinction and his loyalty to the new Third Reich is unquestioned by nearly everyone...including the Fuhrer. But he hates the Nazis and is working with the British secret service, relaying them information while appearing to be a patriotic German.

I have mixed feelings on this one. The film is exciting, nicely acted and very well made and is a terrific war film. It's just all a giant lie! My suggestion is to by all means watch it...and realize it's just a neat fictional tale.

Jack Hawkins plays an English officer spying from within Hitler's high command and forever under the watchful eye of the Gestapo.

This is an enjoyable, sometimes tense, if rather hard to swallow spy story, held nicely together by director De Toth and the always reliable and very British Jack Hawkins who is particularly impressive herewhen taking advantage of Hitler's absurd self belief. Good support from Felix Aylmer as his British contact and interesting to see Ronald Hines, Donald Pleasence and Michael Caine in very early bit parts.