This film hit 42nd Street theaters a few years before the TRINITY series, and was my first introduction to the duo of Hill and Spencer. At that point, in the late 60's, grindhouses were inundated with spaghetti westerns, but this one stood out. While I like the TRINITY films, with the addition of Eli Wallach, it's even better. There's great interplay and one-upmanship between the three. And though it's been 50 years, my recollection is the film is more comic than violent, though there's lots of action and a plethora of double-crosses. Very well photographed and directed too.
I saw this when it came out. I remember being extremely impressed by it as a 12 year old, especially LIlli Palmer's performance. I was expecting a WWII spy movie with lots of action, seeing as William Holden was in it, but it was much deeper and morally ambiguous, as well as gripping and emotionally involving. It took me to places I didn't anticipate. I also recall it looked amazing. Sold!
Looking forward to seeing The Counterfeit Traitor in KL's new Blu-ray! It's a long but suspenseful movie, filmed expansively on location In (West) Berlin, Hamburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen. The story is based on Eric 'Red' Ericson, a real-life hero, an American born Swedish national, who as an oil company executive of neutral Sweden, infiltrated the Nazi synthetic oil refining industry and gathered intelligence for the Allies, via MI6 and OSS.Coming Soon on Blu-ray!
2018 HD Master by Paramount Pictures – From a 4K Scan of 35mm Original Camera Negative
The Counterfeit Traitor (1962) Starring William Holden, Lilli Palmer, Hugh Griffith, Ingrid van Bergen, Wolfgang Preiss, Werner Peters, Erica Beer & Klaus Kinski – Shot by Jean Bourgoin (Black Orpheus, The Longest Day) – Music by Alfred Newman (Nevada Smith, Airport) – Written, Produced & Directed by George Seaton (Miracle on 34th Street, 36 Hours).
The iTunes HD digital has not been upgraded to that 2018 scan, like many other Paramount titles have been whether in 4K or much improved HD digital.
September 20th
I’d really love to know if Kino’s version of Brannigan has an optional 2.0 stereo track. If so, I’d add that one into my cart, and be over the $50 threshold. I have the previous Twilight Time one, but I’d gladly donate that one to goodwill, since the only audio track is mono
