The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank

There are so many factual mistakes in this movie. The real Miep was very short, with blonde hair; Jan was tall with blonde hair and wore glasses; otto was tall, thin and balding, not overweight with dark hair. The calendar on the wall in the office never changes. Bep wore glasses. I would strongly recommend "Anne Frank Remembered" by Jon. Blair. There's a reason why his documentary won an Oscar. This is so bad it's sad.

I've seen many Anne Frank films, but this is one of a kind. It tells a story of how Miep & Jan Gies hid the Frank's, Van Daan's, and Dr. Dussell. This was all way before Paul Gies, Miep & Jan's son, was born. Simon Koophuis, Harry Kraler, Miep Gies, Jan Gies, and Elly Vossen were all great people, putting others before themselves in this time of crisis. Herman Van Dan, Petronella Van Dan, Peter Van Dan, and Dr. Albert Dussell were the other 4 with the Frank family. Before going into hiding, they were all fairly good friends. But these tight quarters made it impossible for them to tolerate each other 24/7. Dr. Dussell was a very kind man, he was just trying to understand a teen that was going through adolescence. Lottie Dussell didn't join her hubby because she was a Christian and would be dangerous. Overall, this is by far one of the greatest stories of all time! I hope it comes to DVD in the States someday. I remember at one time Paul Gies said that he would have loved knowing all these people.

Having just read the book, ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED upon which this 1988 TV drama was based I was both surprised and pleased to find that it added to the experience of the book. Beautifully underplayed by the entire cast. Mary Steenburgen plays Miep Gies -- the young secretary who played a major role in providing the needs for the eight Jews hiding in the attic above her working place -- and she gives the finest performance of her career. Paul Scofield as Otto Frank and Lisa Jacobs as Anne are excellent as is the entire cast. The location work in Holland and the music by Richard Rodney Bennett contribute greatly to tightly written and directed script. This is one that should be released on DVD. A great companion piece to George Steven's 1959 classic THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and the recent Documentary ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED. Out of print but worth tracking down!

With all the Anne Frank movies and documentaries out there "Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank" is the most accurate movie I have ever seen. Eleanor Bron (who portrays Edith Frank) and Mary Steenburgen (who portrays the selfless and sacrificial Miep Gies) portrayed themselves very much close to their characters in real life. Although most of the actors and actresses are indeed American, the first half of the shooting of the film took place in the River Quarter of South Amsterdam, the actual neighborhood and square that the Frank family lived in. The movie portrays the lives of the Frank family before hiding and during hiding. Some of the movie really explains the tension in such confined quarters, the fear of discovery, and the yearning for the war to get over with. Although this is a made for television movie, and hardly even seen anymore, this movie is good for any Anne Frank fan too see!

One reviewer wrote that the main "actors and actresses are indeed American". This is not true. The film was made by Yorkshire Television (UK) and practically all the main actors, except for the American lead actress, were British.