The Odessa File
October. 18,1974 PGFollowing the suicide of an elderly Jewish man, investigative journalist Peter Miller sets out to hunt down an SS Captain and former concentration camp commander. In doing so he discovers that, despite allegations of war crimes, the former commander has become a man of importance in industry in post-war Germany, protected from prosecution by a powerful organisation of former SS members called Odessa.
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Reviews
Sorry, this movie sucks
People are voting emotionally.
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
First saw this film some years ago and found it moving and interesting. I can still remember the feeling of the hairs standing up on the back of my neck at a revelation. Such a brilliant well told story.I did notice something odd while watching it for the upteenth time. The scene in the underground station. Before the train comes: Sigi and Peter pass through the passengers and we see a grey haired man wearing a camel coloured coat and light scarf, and a hat When the train halts and the doors open, the guard alights and I'm sure the same man is behind him on the train (minus the hat)! I only noticed him as he reminded me of my dad.Anyway, great film although some may find it dated - it's very '70s. You'd never know the actress playing Sigi is English. Jon Voight is great, with a brilliant German accent.
I have read all the criticisms of 'The Odessa File' but they make no difference to my opinion of the film. I have watched it time and time again, and it never fails to grip me in many different ways. It was one of the first intelligent films made about the young Germans' struggle to understand and come to terms with what was done in their own country. The tension carries through the whole film without any sensational violence to the final scene when the surprise unfolds. Ronald Neame certainly deserved his BAFTA and Frederic Forsyth wrote a cracking story. Makes you proud to be British. The critics can carry on nit picking about a character's age and 'unrealistic' fight scenes, but I will continue to watch the film when it appears again and again.
Insure you are the single non-member participant at a Society meeting and flash theeee biggest lightbulb for photos of this memorable event, grow a kewl 70s stash n become completely unrecognizable to those you have recently interacted with, call your girlfriend under surveillance and shout your current location and THEN question who the girl is who answered the phone, make believe you are a priest somehow because you twisted your white tie or ??? around your collar and get the safe number (of course she has to say: the last four digits of the phone number vs 9753 b/c she is feeling chatty)!I looked forward to viewing this film and was most intrigued with diary account and then the plot became plodding, trying to keep up with the Israel destruction game plan vs why Miller is really committed to the personal vendetta only to be revealed at the last moment is beyond my comprehension, knowing the level of danger at any moment and walk down a dark alley alone and whistle a happy tune was the undertones of this film... so glad that train was crawling along to avoid any real disaster and thank goodness mr. evil had an even chance with his own handgun to create more suspense, think we kinda hated him enough already, hence unnecessary devices to junk up the sweet ending... High recommend for Voight fans, accent aside, found his role riveting, compelling and worthy of high praise, just not the proper vehicle for his talents...
If getting away with Murder is intolerable, then getting away with Mass Murder is more than intolerable. So the fact that many Nazi War Criminals escaped at Wars end unblemished and prospering is the stuff that can enrage anyone.So from the beginning in this taut and incredibly tense Thriller we are behind the Protagonist and His attempt at finding and dealing with this Scum. Jon Voight gives a powerful, restrained Performance and is helped by some rather cold, but beautiful Cinematography.In fact, the Movie is so well shot that it doesn't look like a lot of cheesy and unattractive Seventies Films. There are remarkable Scenes, like the one in the Beer Hall that are so well Produced for such a short running time that one wonders why they bothered, but glad they did. It gives an authenticity to the proceedings and it is this sort of visual detail that makes this an above average affair.This is not an elaborate but chilling way to realize the subject matter and the Movie is never boring or disengaging. It has a deliberate and relentless take on a complicated situation. It never fails to intrigue and has a controlled environment of a determined Journalist way above His head, but tenacious in resolve. This is an enduring, factual Story that even Today never ceases to be involving.