349: O Último Trem de Berlim

José Ferrer was an exceptional Oscar-winning actor...one of the best of his generation. However, given poor material, even a fine actor like him is hindered from being able to put over the character. In this case, he plays a very one-dimensional and often annoying character thanks to the writing. It's a shame as the basic story is interesting and is a snippet of history we should not forget.

When the story begins, an obnoxious reporter (Ferrer) pushes his way onto a US military train headed from East Germany to West Germany. In other words, moving from a Soviet puppet government to a democratically elected government in the West. The train is secured so that no one can get on or off--all parts of a treaty with the Russians in order to allow this train to pass through East German territory. This sort of trip has already been made many times before but further trains like this are doubtful when a defecting East German somehow climbs aboard the train....and the East Germans and Russians stop the train and demand the return of the defector. As a result, a diplomatic incident occurs.

Most younger people today have little, if any, recollection of the separate Germanies and the government's attempt to prevent East Germans to immigrate to the West. Interesting...yes. But the film has a cheap look to it and Ferrer's character simply isn't necessary...yet there he is making all sorts of idiotic comments almost randomly throughout the film. It's obvious this West German production wanted some famous American actor in the film in order to try to attract more viewers....and Ferrer had won the Best Actor Oscar the decade before for "Cyrano de Bergerac". But he's pretty much wasted in an otherwise compelling picture.

This is a true story as I was living in Berlin. My dad Charles Fitz was called out to negotiate the release of the refugee. I believe the character representing his part in this event was Major Finnegan. I remember how he wanted to do more to for the refugee. Great Movie/realistic and shows the fear/hopelessness of the Cold war at the time. I enjoyed the glimpse of history. I could recite a number of stories from our time in Germany and Russia . Sean Flynn did a good job. Story was filmed dark to illustrate the environment. Glad we have moved on. I have many stories about the night the Berlin wall was built.

At this point 30 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the iron curtain, this film is vital as a reminder of the inhuman conditions imposed on Berliners at the time. The realism couldn't be made more authentic, and there are lots of more characters than just Sean Flynn and José Ferrer, and everyone plays his own part, in losing control, in changing sides, in persisting on the necessity of human charity, of military.cadaver discipline, of inevitability of destiny, and so on. It is in black and white in almost exclusively nocturnal scenery, which adds to the tension, that is constantly building up as complications never end but keep piling up with sudden turns of events. So this is actually a documentary, no film, no theatre show, but an effort to stick to reality as closely as possible with admirable results that will last.

Low-budget but not low-quality Cold War drama about an East German refugee who slips aboard a US military train leaving West Berlin and passing through East Germany. The East German and Soviet authorities discover that he's aboard and stop the train, demanding that he be turned over to them. Sean Flynn, Errol's impossibly good-looking son, does a first-rate job as the young American army officer in charge of the train who finds himself caught in the center of Cold War tensions and Jose Ferrer is good, if a bit showy, as a seen-it-all reporter aboard the train. The film takes place mostly aboard the cramped train and, while the dialog lags in spots and the direction is a bit ragged, overall it's a commendable, very worthy effort.

"Delay in Marienborn" was a surprise: an effective 1963 Cold War drama that during its day capitalized on the tense relations between the Soviet Union and the United States in divided German territory. Not surprisingly it won several awards, including best screenplay from the film industry of the Federal Republic of Germany, and the Youth Award at the Berlin Film Festival for the Best Feature Film Suitable for Young People. The film was a call to tolerance and understanding between world powers, but most importantly a reflection on the value of discipline and adherence to codes among the military, in a time when ethics apparently seemed more clearly defined by ideologies. Based on Will Tremper's book "Aufenthalt in Marienborn", that recounts a true incident, the film tells a charged and moving tale: a nurse (Nicole Courcel) helps Banner (Hans-Joachim Schmiedel) to defect from the Democratic Republic of Germany, by allowing him to get on board an American-commanded train crossing the territory under Soviet control. Although most conversations are led between high officers of each side, the final decision of what to do with Banner is left to lieutenant Novak (Sean Flynn) who is in command of the train. Both the lieutenant and the defector are 24- year old men. They are not portrayed as heroes of action films or stereotypes of propaganda movies, but as two humane and vulnerable young men, facing a crisis beyond them, ruled by world politics. Others on board include a journalist (José Ferrer, who received first credit but had a secondary role), a US diplomat, a newlywed couple, a female sport team, and other assorted characters. The best part of the surprise though was Sean Flynn. I did not expect to ever watch him in a dramatic role, to give an effective performance and to hear him in English, after watching several films where he was dubbed in Spanish, Italian and German. Also providing good performances in an international cast, Jess Hahn is featured as Flynn's assistant; Yossi Yadin plays the Soviet officer, while actor-author Edward Meeks plays an American captain with a clear idea of what has to be done. Recommended.