Controspionaggio

The surprise here is the Victor Mature's character, very unusual for him. A good movie from a director mostly known for TOWN WITHOUT PITY, excellent drama. This is a rather forgotten film, speaking of WW2, but it is worth watching, because engrossing enough to keep you glued to it. Not so many films evoked the Dutch element in this war, except THE BLACK BOOK and SOLDIER OF ORANGE from director Paul Verhoeven. However, some Tv movies were made about it, mostly underrated. But without the Victor Mature's character - I won't say more about it, not to spoil - I would have probably watched it only once, despite Lana Turner and Clark Gable. It is more espionage than purely gritty "front line" war feature, but why not? War was not only a matter of explosions and bombardments.

"Betrayed" stars Clark Gable in his last film for MGM, after which his contract was not renewed. I love the way these studios managed to forget the very people who made them great and kept them solvent during some hard years, but there you go. Gable deserved better for his last film - though it is beautifully photographed in color on location and has a star cast, he doesn't really have much of a role.

With Gable is another star on unsure footing at MGM - Lana Turner, who by 1954 had committed the unforgivable sin of being over 30 and therefore on her way out as far as Dore Schary was concerned. Victor Mature and Louis Calhern round out the all-star cast. Turner, as the widowed Carla van Oven, is sent into Holland as a liaison between a resistance fighter, The Scarf (Mature) and the British. When it becomes apparent that someone is betraying the resistance, Deventer (Gable), who trained Carla and fell in love with her, begins to suspect she's spying for the Nazis.

The story gets a little confusing but all in all, it's fairly routine stuff, and all these actors have appeared in stronger vehicles. It is lovely to look at, however. And Turner, as a brunette, looks beautiful and, though it's wartime, has some glamor moments as well. Gable at 53 was probably a little past it for his role, but he has a commanding presence. Mature does a good job as the wild resistance fighter.

Clark Gable and Turner both gave MGM their best years. "Betrayed" turned out to be an apt title for both of them.

I've always been very found of this movie. As another reviewer wrote, the screenwriters did a good job of blending the facts of Operation Market Garden with the fictitious story. I liked the role of the dashing "The Scarf" and Victor Mature's portrayal. Most of all, I like this as the last paring of Gable and Turner. Their first was HONKY TONK in 1941 when he was still the sassy, scowling rascal of GONE WITH THE WIND and IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT, and she was young, soft, delicate and alluring. By 1954, his scowl and sass were long gone as the result of the loss of his wife, Carole Lombard, and of the war which had made sass seem frivolous. He was older and thicker, but still a commanding screen presence. She was older, more experienced as a character and as an actress, and still alluring. When they slowly walk arm and arm, going in the wrong direction, through a line of soldiers singing "Bless Them All," this older and wiser pair had come full circle.

Before I say anything else, I need to talk about the film score. While one reviewer pointed out how they liked it, I found that after what seemed like the 800th repetition of the same calliope music, I was ready to scream! I truly hated the music and it really didn't seem all that appropriate to the film--sounding more like circus or organ grinder's music than something for a WWII flick.

Now apart from all that, the film was a reasonably competent film and Gable, Turner and Mature all did fine. However, being a die-hard Clark Gable fan, I really wish he had more to do in the film. While Victor Mature got 3rd billing, he really seemed much more the star in the film and he definitely came off best of the three.

Apart from the acting, the film technically seemed only okay. Not bad, but certainly not good either. The biggest problem is that although the film was made on location in Holland (a big plus), the actors never sounded or acted Dutch in the least. Case in point, Lana Turner calling a young Dutch lad "Jan"--with a j-sound. It should have been pronounced "Yan"--and those responsible for the film should have noticed or cared. But, in the end it looked and sounded like hardly anyone connected with the film was Dutch--very strange indeed when it is a location shoot! As for the plot, it seemed to drag a little bit but was also pretty unusual and interesting--and it's because of that the film managed to score a 6.

"Betrayed!" is just a bit above average World War II film in the espionage genre. Even though I can't help watching it every once in a while I'm not really sure where its attraction is for me. Perhaps it is that I like World War II espionage films and so I don't get too demanding with movies that deal with such matters.

Considering that in my opinion this product has an interesting story about courage, love and mainly treason, lots of action sequences, beautiful outdoor locations in Holland and two important stars in the male and female leading roles (Clark Gable and Lana Turner) I must agree with one reviewer here that thinks the flaw is in the direction work. Gottfied Reinhardt was a not very prolific and average director whose best work was probably the interesting "Town Without Pity" (1961). In "Betrayed!" he doesn't succeed with a movie that had chances of delivering more impact and strength; none of the main actors look too enthusiastic about their characters and it shows.

Gable doesn't add much to his brilliant career in his role as a Dutch intelligence officer though his impressive screen presence always helps him. Lana Turner looks beautiful as a brunette in spite of the just standard performance she delivers as an infiltrated spy for the allies. Victor Mature as a partisan chief ("Scarf") is the only one that shoes interest in what he is doing as usual, but he also overacts terribly as usual. Anton Diffring is also there in one of his nasty Nazi officer roles he played so well.

My feeling about "Betrayed!" is that a better film could have been made with a more strong and imaginative directors, but as it came out this picture is just for fans of the genre.