Several years ago I saw a movie on TV that took place during WWII
about a woman who becomes a spy, I believe at the encouragement of a
man she was seeing. She is captured and tortured for information, and
finally yields when they tell her that her friend was in on it with
them right from the beginning. The last scene shows her exiting from a
concentration camp, and it is only then that she learns that that had
been a lie. The movie was in color, and did not seem to be an old
movie. What is the name of this movie and where can I see it, buy it,
or rent it?

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 04 Feb 2003 16:19 PST

Hello rikki973,

Does the movie you’re looking for sound like this description?

“When the British Army made an appeal for photos of the French
coastline, she mailed a set of old holiday snapshots to the War
Office. As a result, she was approached to serve as a British agent in
France during the Nazi occupation. Under the guidance of the Captain
and a French resistance soldier , her ability to blend in as a typical
French citizen was put to excellent use by Allied intelligence. She 
was eventually found out and subjected to brutal torture by a Gestapo
Colonel, but she never gave up any information on her work. She was
then sentenced to death in a concentration camp, and when American
forces arrived to liberate the compound, she was held hostage by the
camp's Commandant, believing that she was too valuable to let go.”

Thanks
--Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 05 Feb 2003 16:52 PST

The movie you have described sounds VERY similar. I'm not sure if it's
the same one. I tuned into the movie in the middle, so I don't what
the circumstances were of her becoming a spy. She was caught (I think
at a train station), and brutally tortured. This sounds just like your
movie, but in my movie, she finally caved in and gave them information
that was on a tiny piece of paper. My recollection is that what made
her cave was that they told her that her companion was in on it with
them from the beginning. In the last scene, I think she was coming out
of a concentration camp (at liberation?), and it was only then that
she learned that it was not true about her companion. The last scene
almost seemed like an add-on - perhaps test audiences couldn't bear
her never learning that her companion had been true to her. I'm
mentioning this because I've heard of movies being released with
different endings.

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 05 Feb 2003 20:42 PST

Hello again,

Here is another description of the movie that may help:

“A French woman married to an Englishman. After her husband is killed
in action she is recruited as an intelligence agent after mistakenly
sending photographs to the wrong address in response to a War Office
appeal. She is parachuted into German-occupied France to work
alongside a radio operator and an agent who is Captain. Her work for
the French resistance leads to her arrest, interrogation and torture
by the Gestapo Colonel); She endures severe torture without disclosing
any information about her colleagues and is sent to a concentration
camp to be executed. Fortunately, American troops arrive to free the
camp and the Nazi commandant  decides that she should be saved, as she
will be a valuable hostage when he surrenders. She  returns to Britain
and eventually marries the Captain.”

Thanks
Bobbie7

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 06 Feb 2003 12:42 PST

Wow. This sounds like a great movie too. But I don't think it's the
one I'm looking for, because there are two things that don't match:
1)I'm certain that she DID eventually divulge information (she told
them where a tiny piece of paper was hidden), and 2)unless there was a
part 2 that I was totally unaware of (I'm not ruling this out), the
movie ended at the scene where she was leaving the concentration camp
along with other prisoners. There was nothing about her getting
married in the end. It didn't have a happy ending.

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 09 Feb 2003 17:53 PST

Hi bobbie7! Are you still hoping to find my movie? Or is there a
chance that the movie you described is the one? If your movie has the
woman confessing after being tortured by telling them where a tiny
piece of paper is, then I'll accept it as the movie I'm looking for,
regardless of how it ends, because it is possible that I was totally
unaware of there being a part II.

Let me know if you've given up so I can repost the question. Thanx!

---

Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 09 Feb 2003 18:01 PST

Hi Rikki973,
I haven't seen the movie myself so I really don't know about the part
with the tiny piece of paper. The movie that I'm thinking of is in
black and white and was made in the 1950's.  Perhaps another
researcher will have better luck.
Best Regards,
--Bobbie7-ga

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 10 Feb 2003 15:12 PST

OK. Thanks for trying. The movie I'm looking for was in color and was
not an old movie. I'm going to repost the question.

---

Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 24 Feb 2003 07:31 PST

Hi rikki973-ga:

I wanted to alert you to my Comment posted Feb. 22 to see if either of
the two movies I suggested is the one you're seeking.

If I struck out on both guesses, could you post any details about the
cast? For instance, did you recognize any of the actors, including
those in minor supporting roles? (If you knew who the stars of the
film were, I'm sure you would have mentioned that!)Even if you don't
know any of the actors' names, did you recognize any of them from
other films? That kind of information could really help.

Sincerely,
nancylynn-ga

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 24 Feb 2003 09:25 PST

Hi nancylynn-ga. Thanks for choosing my question.
I'm certain that the movie I'm looking for is not 'Shining Through',
because I've seen that movie and read the book. From the description
and the pictures you sent me I'm 99% sure that it's not 'Charlotte
Gray', but I'm not ruling that out entirely. I don't know any of the
actors, even minor ones. I tuned into the movie quite near what seemed
like the end, so unfortunately I have no further information. The
things I'm certain of: she was caught and tortured, and finally caved,
by telling them where she had a tiny piece of paper hidden.

I hope you're able to find this movie. I really want to see it from
the beginning!

---

Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 25 Feb 2003 08:28 PST

Hi rikki973-ga:

I'm coming up empty on this. Do you recall if the cast seemed to be
mainly British or American? Do you remember if you saw this on cable,
or premium cable like HBO, or could this have been a BBC production
you saw on BBC America or PBS? Maybe Lifetime TV?

The only other movie I found that fit some of the criteria was
"Hanna's War," based on a true story, but Hanna was executed by the
Nazis. See video box cover and synopsis at:
http://entertainment.msn.com/Movies/Movie.aspx?m=479415  

I can't find any spy movie about a woman that involves a slip of
paper. Of course, most synopses don't really address what happens in
the 2nd half of a film, or the ending.

I'll keep looking, but this is proving to be a tough case to crack!

Sincerely,
nancylynn-ga

---

Clarification of Question by rikki973-ga on 01 Mar 2003 13:17 PST

I saw the movie (the last half of the movie, that is) several years
ago, and I've been looking for it since. It definitely had an American
look to it, not British. It was probably on a cable channel, but not
likely a premium cable channel. A few months ago I sent an e-mails to
Lifetime-TV and to AMC asking about it, but neither replied. Since I
never saw the 1st half, it's unlikely that descriptions will match the
facts that I know. (a catch-22 to be sure!)

Charlotte Gray was on TV last night. It's not the one.

I'm not ruling out Hanna's War, but I think I would have remembered if
Ellen Burstyn was in the movie, unless she was only in the half I
didn't see. Do you know any more about that plot than the description
says?

Do you have any way to throw this question back up for grabs? I'm
willing to up the price to $20. (If you answer it at the $15 level, I
will add a $5 tip.) In any case, thanks for trying!

---

Request for Question Clarification by nancylynn-ga on 05 Mar 2003 08:25 PST

Hello rikki973-ga:

I'm only posting this clarification to make sure you get an alert. My
final comment, posted the other day, is buried at the bottom of this
page under my original reply to you. You have to scroll the whole way
down to the bottom of the screen.

I came up with two more suggestions, though neither is an exact match
for what you described. I also explained how to re-post.

Good luck in your search, and I hope one of my final suggestions rings
a bell for you!
nancylynn-ga

Hello rikki973-ga:

I have two possibilities for you: "Shining Through" and "Charlotte
Gray." (If I'm right about either, I'll re-post as the answer.) Here's
some information about both movies:

The 1992 film "Shining Through" is a story about a German-speaking
American woman who becomes a spy during WW II. The film stars Melanie
Griffith, Michael Douglas, and Liam Neeson. I've never seen the film
version, but did read the Susan Issacs's novel on which it is based,
some time ago. I don't recall a concentration camp scene (it's been
awhile since I read it), but the other plot elements sound like
"Shining Through."

Here's a synopsis of the film from All Movie Guide at Blockbuster:
"Kewpie-doll voiced Melanie Griffith does a sexed-up Nancy Drew turn
in David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Issacs' novel Shining Through.
Set during World war II, Griffith plays Linda Voss, a spunky New York
girl who applies for a job with international lawyer Ed Leland
(Michael Douglas). Ed hires her immediately when he finds out that she
speaks German fluently. The reason Ed is so interested in Linda's
language skills is because Ed is an undercover OSS officer who needs a
German translator. Their business relationship translates into love,
but when America enters the war, Ed abandons his law practice to
become a full-time spy. Utilizing Linda's charms, she travels to
Berlin and infiltrates the Nazis as a domestic to try to discover
information about "a bomb that can fly by itself." But Linda has
personal as well as patriotic motives for agreeing to go undercover,
since she has Jewish relatives in Berlin and wants to find out their
whereabouts." You'll find this synopsis at:
http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/movie/details/0,7286,VID-V++++44367,00.html

The photo and customer comments on "Shining Through" at Amazon.com may
also be enough for you to determine if this is the right film:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/630243078X/qid%3D1045948953/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-5950300-7123125

This plot also sounds a bit like the 2001 box office bomb "Charlotte
Gray," starring Cate Blanchett. Here's a review from Barnes &
Noble.com:
"Based on the best-selling novel by Sebastian Faulks, this drama, set
in Europe during World War II, stars Cate Blanchett as Charlotte, a
Scottish woman living in London. Charlotte falls in love with Peter
(Rupert Penry-Jones), a handsome RAF pilot, and the two are soon
caught up in a torrid affair. Before long, Peter is sent off on a
mission over France, and Charlotte receives word that Peter has been
reported missing in action. Fluent in French and desperate to find the
man she loves, Charlotte volunteers for work with British intelligence
and is soon smuggled into France where she is to work with French
resistance forces, posing as a woman from Paris. As Charlotte goes
about her duties and tries to find Peter, she finds herself drawn to
Julien (Billy Crudup), a Communist working with resistance forces.
Charlotte is assigned to pose as a domestic at the home of Julien's
father, Levade (Michael Gambon), where he's hiding two Jewish boys
whose parents have been captured by Nazi troops. In order to maintain
her cover and protect Julien, Levade, and the boys, Charlotte finds
herself drawn into a relationship with Rench (Anton Lesser), a
busybody schoolteacher who is collaborating with the occupation
troops."

You'll find that review, plus another, and a photo of the video box
(which may jog your memory) at:
http://video.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?ean=85392247424&userid=541QANUXWK

This site contains photo stills from "Charlotte Gray.":
http://www.allmoviephoto.com/c/2001_Charlotte_Gray_CateBlanchett.html

I hope one of my two guesses is right!

Sincerely,
nancylynn-ga

Hello rikki973-ga:

I have a few more suggestions for you, but first let me explain: your
question is set to expire on March 6th, so you can re-post it after
that if no one answers it by that date. (There's still a chance that I
or another researcher can find it before the 6th.) Also, your question
remains "up for grabs"; I don't have an exclusive claim on it. Another
researcher may come up with the answer for you by March 6th.

Btw, it's been some time since I saw "Plenty," starring Meryl Streep
as a woman who assisted in WW II resistance. I can't recall though if
she was ever taken prisoner. I assume you would have recognized
Streep, though.

As for "Hanna's War," all I know is that it's based on a true story
and that
she was executed by the Nazis, so this may not be the film you want,
although it has aired on AMC. I'm not sure if Burstyn appeared in the
second
half of the film. There are a few photos from the film at a tribute
page to
co-star Anthony Andrews at:
http://www.anthonyandrews.net/hannaswar.html
and if you click on the pictures there (especially the 4th photo from
the
right on the second row), you may recognize the actress playing Hanna.

I found a few other possibilities. You'll again have to look at the
box
covers and the customer reviews and brief synopses to see if any thing
rings
a bell:

"One Against The Wind": Hallmark Hall of Fame film about an American
woman (played by Judy Davis) who assisted in the French Resistance and
who comes to the aid of British pilot, played by Sam Neill:
(customer reviews reveal the character played by Judy Davis was taken
prisoner by Nazis and eventually released):
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00000G08Q/qid=1046557489/br=1
-7/ref=br_lf_v_7//103-0366369-6191818?v=glance&s=video&n=909756

"One Against The Wind" has also aired on AMC:
http://www.amctv.com/show/detail/0,,60427-1-EST,00.html

"Max and Helen," about two lovers separated and taken prisoner during
the
war. But I'm not sure this is the right film either. It was made for
TV, I
*think* for TNT, in 1990.

Synopsis of "Max and Helen" from Blockbuster at
http://www.blockbuster.com/bb/movie/details/0,7286,VID-V++++31876,00.html
 "Martin Landau plays legendary Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal in this
made-for-cable offering from director Philip Saville. Based on
Wiesenthal's
book, Treat Williams plays Max, a Jewish Holocaust survivor relating
his
story to Simon, who has tracked down the Nazi commandant in charge of
the
camp where Max and his fiancée Helen (Alice Krige) were held. While
Max
believes Helen to be dead, they are reunited after more than twenty
years by
film's end. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Movie Guide."

Also:
read the 2nd description of "Max and Helen" at:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/6301670116/ref=pd_sim_video_1/
103-1943186-7083061?v=glance&s=video

If I couldn't find the right film for you, I'm sorry. But be sure to
check back on March 7th when your question will have expired. If
there's still no answer, then re-post it.

I hope someone can help you find the film you want! I will check back
too, before the March 7th, to see if either of my new suggestions were
correct, then I can re-post as the answer.

Good luck,
nancylynn-ga