The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank

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!

I saw this movie years ago, and remember that it was wonderful. I just wish that it was available in VHS. I also have the book and it is very informative. It filled in a lot of blanks for me. After I read the diary, I wondered how it all came about, how

Anne and her family ended up in hiding. With Meip's book you get a feel for what was going on out side.

This is a movie about Miep Gies.It's based on her book about the events.In that book she used pseudonyms instead of real names of some people, just like in the publication of Anne Frank's diary.I shall do the same thing.Miep did everything she could to save her Jewish friends from concentration camp.Amsterdam, July 5th 1942: Margot Frank, the daughter of Otto Frank receives a notice to report to a labor camp.The family goes into hiding at the office building of Mr. Frank.They are joined by the van Daan family and Dr. Dussel.Miep Gies is the office assistant of Mr. Frank's spice company Opekta, and now she has a responsible job to keep them safe and get them everything they need.She's not alone for there are a few other helpers as well.But despite all the good work done by the people outside the secret annexe they did end up at the camps.Only Mr. Frank returned.Anne Frank wrote her diary during the hiding which became known all around the world.Miep Gies was born as Hermine Santrouschitz in Vienna, Austria one hundred years ago.That's right, Miep Gies turns 100 years today.Have a happy birthday, Miep! I read her book Anne Frank Remembered six years ago.This movie gives a realistic portray of the events.The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank (1988) is a TV movie directed by John Erman.Mary Steenburgen gives a fantastic performance as our hero, Miep.Other players do also very good job.Anne Frank, who would turn 80 next summer is played by Lisa Jacobs.Paul Scofield, who passed away last year plays Otto Frank.Eleanor Bron is Edith Frank.Margot Frank's part is played by Georgia Slowe..Jan Gies, Miep's husband, is played by Huub Stapel.Frances Cuka plays Mrs. van Daan.Victor Spinetti plays Herman van Daan.Ian Sears plays the part of Peter van Daan.Jeffrey Robert is Dr. Dussel.Koophuis was one of the helpers and is played by Ronald Pickup.Mr. Kraler was also and is played by Gary Raymond.And so was Elli Vossen and she's played by Isabelle Amyes.Miriam Karlin plays Mrs. Samson, Jan's and Miep's landlady.Tom Wilkinson plays the Nazi Karl Silberbauer.This movie does what you expect it to do: it touches you.It tells the story of these real people, people who were actually there very realistically.Those moments, like when Miep and Jan spend a night at the annexe, or when Miep gets Anne her first pair of heels and so on.You live all those moments there with them.But you do wish the ending was different.

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.

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.