Fräulein Doktor

After watching the rather sloppy WW1 spy thriller, Madam Lili (1969)starring Julie Andrews on tv this afternoon, I suddenly thought I had seen a far superior WW1 spy thriller. All I could remember was that it was produced by Dino De Laurentis. It only took a short search on IMDB to find Fraulein Doktor. Once I recognised the title the memories came flooding back. It is, for its time, a reasonably well crafted story revolving around true events such as the death of Kitchener and the German offensives of 1918.It also has a female spy who is much more believable than Julie Andrews! As with other reviewers the first and strongest memory was of the well produced battle scenes and of men and horses in gas masks. If you have an interest in war films and particularly WW1 it is a film well worth seeing if you have the opportunity.

During the First World War, female German spy Fraulein Doktor (Suzy Kendall) and her squadron of saboteurs are assigned by German Intelligence Col. Mathesius (Nigel Green) to risked plan : to kill Lord Kitchener , obtain the Allied defense plans , and to rob the new French mustard-gas formula from its inventor . Fräulein Doktor herself comes off as interesting and particularly sexy, and her exploits , impacting the fortunes of nations in the high stakes game of WWI espionage . Fraulein Doctor with smouldering allure has relationships with high-ranking military officers, aristocrats , people with influential positions in many countries and even a lesbian romance with a key role , Dr. Saforet (Capucine) . Now she must go behind the enemy lines and get the enemy plans , posing as a nurse but Col. Foreman (Kenneth More) goes afer her . As the German army plans to use the new French mustard-gas on the battlefield during the upcoming German offensive commanded by Ludendorff against the Allied armies and the British secret service attempt to avoid it . Espionage that began with a kiss !The deadliest game of espionage ... where betrayal began with a kiss. Espionage... that begins with a kiss fires the fuse of the poison gas war ! .

Notable warfare movie set in WWI, in which the German intelligence sends a team of saboteurs to Allied headquarters in Belgium to steal the secret Allied defense plans and a female spy to Scotland to kill Lord Kitchener and other dangerous assignments , it contains intrigue , suspense , thrills , emotion and excellent battle scenes . This is a thought-provoking and intelligent war drama perfectly acted by strong cast and masterfully written by great writers as Vittoriano Petrilli (story) , H. A. L. Craig (screenplay) , Stanley Mann (uncredited) , Duilio Coletti (uncredited) and director Albert Lattuada himself . Although the story is inspired on real events , in a Mata Hari-style character , it's mostly a historical fiction , though Fräulein Doktor is loosely based on the life of Elsbeth Schragmüller who died of miliary tuberculosis in 1940 . It depicts a brooding study about spy word and futility as well as insanity of war , making a shattering accusation against the criminal military means by using the lethal mustard gas against the defenceless soldiers in the terrible trenches . Main and support cast deliver stunning performances . As Suzi Kendall gives a nice acting as a German female spy , known as Fraulein Doktor, who is tasked with stealing the new mustard-gas formula from its French female inventor and other misssions . While the support cast is frankly good with plenty of British and Italian actors such as : Nigel Green , Alexander Knox , Capucine , James Booth , Silvia Monti , Mario Novelli and Giancarlo Giannini .

Here stands out the emotive and stirring soundtrack by the great Ennio Morricone , though the initial music on the credit titles is really bizarre , but subsequently goes on his usual style . As well as colorful and evocative cinematography by Luigi Kuveiller, shot on location in Yugoslavia, Hungary and Dino de Laurentiis studios , Rome , Italy . This Italian/Yugoslavian co-production was very well produced by Dino de Laurentiis and competently directed by Alberto Lattuada. This was an Italian neo-realist film director and fully qualified architect. Co-founded the first film library in Italy, prior to working as an assistant to Mario Soldati. As director in his own right became noted for visual style . His subjects were intense dramas , and some often satirical, and others comedies directed against socio-political hipocrisy . He was a prestigious writer and director, known for La Chicharra (1980) , Padre putativo (1974) , Guendalina (1957), Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo (1947) , Luces de Variete , Ana , La steppa , Il delitto di Giovanni Episcopo , among others . Rating : 7/10. Better than average , Well worth watching .

I am not ordinarily a fan of spy thrillers because the spies always seem to live in their own world oblivious to the realities of the rest of the world around them. But this film shows for the first time a spy who sees first hand the results of her work. There is blood on her hands literally as well as symbolically. It is interesting that the one time we see a spy coming face to face with the realities of their handiwork, it is a woman who is the spy.

Like others have mentioned, the battlefield scenes contain some of the most horrific scenes of war carnage ever shot. Not since Akira Kurosawa's "Kagemusha" has the futility and horror of battle been so profoundly depicted. No war was more futile and insane than the first world war, and the grisly images of melting skin and soldier's bodies spasming and writhing in agony are a perfect illustration of one of the biggest turning points in world history. War was no longer played according to rules or any standard of humanity. This is also poignantly shown in a scene when a German general reluctantly pins a medal on "Fraulein Doktor" because she'd killed Lord Kitchener and Kitchener had been a personal friend of his.

One has to put aside some of the 60s-style make-up and hairstyles, but most of the acting is very good and the whole movie will keep your attention all the way through to to the riveting climax. Id' rank this along with "Gallipoli", "Paths of Glory" and "King and Country" as one of the best WWI movies ever made. And to echo some of the other comments here.... I wish I had taped this!

I saw this at the theater in the early 1970's. The most memorable and scary scene is when the German army attacks with yellow cross mustard gas for the first time. The Germans and their horses are covered from head to toe (or hoof) with eerie protective suits. The experienced British soldiers don gas masks (only) and once again await the clouds of gas and the German attackers. The gas clouds move ever closer, finally enveloping the British defenders. The Germans move forward slowly menacingly in their scary looking garb. Suddenly a scream from the defenders... This gas is like no other that they have experienced before....

Now you will know why I have remembered this scene for the last 30+ years and still shiver, I think that you will too!

I saw this film by chance on the small box. It has a fantastic and chilling scene about poisonous gas. A lot about fanatical patriotism. A bit of eroticism. I can't believe it's still waiting for 5 votes!!