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| STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED |
| Unmissable |
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| Excellent |
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| Good |
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| Poor |
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| Tragic |
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| FILM DETAILS | Certificate
12A | | Cast
Martin Landau
Judy Parfitt
Kenny Doughty
Caroline Carver. | | Directors
John Daly. | | | Screenwriters | | Running Time
19 minutes |
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The Aryan Couple
World War II spy movie with a Jewish couple disguised as aryans.
Plot
In attempt to gather secrets for the Hungarian resistance a Jewish couple disguises themselves as Aryan. Review
This tale of a Jewish couple (Kenny Doughty and Caroline Carver) who pose as Aryans to spy for the Hungarian resistance is based on fact. But the more it strains for sincerity, the less convincing it becomes — especially as the principal focus in fact falls on industrialist Martin Landau, who has cut a deal with the Nazis to surrender his assets in return for his family’s safe passage to Palestine. Danny Webb makes a suitably oleaginous Himmler, especially when conniving and disregarding the barbs of Landau’s proud wife (Judy Parfitt). But Christopher Fulford’s SS monster is pure caricature, and his final pursuit of the titular couple (after Himmler has conspired in their escape) is like something from a flag-waving B-movie. Everyone clearly means well, but good intentions don’t always result in great cinema.
Verdict
Everyone tries to make this fact-based sage seem significant. But its over-arching sincerity only results in a stiffness that gives way to B-movie melodramatics in time for the cliché-ridden finale.
Reviewed by David Parkinson
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