Betrayed is an espionage thriller set in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during World War II, and revolves mostly around the Dutch resistance movement.
Colonel Pieter Deventer (Clark Gable) is an intelligence agent of the exiled Dutch government, working to liberate his homeland from Nazi occupiers. He divides his time between secret missions in the Netherlands and trips to England to consult his superiors and a British general. Deventer is ordered to keep an eye on singer Fran Seelers (Lana Turner), who's suspected of collaborating with the Germans. Both Deventer and Seelers join the shadowy Dutch underground, making contact with a flamboyant resistance leader known as "The Scarf" (Victor Mature).
As "Carla Van Oven", Seelers is assigned is to use her feminine charms to gain the confidence of Nazi officers and gather information. In one scene, resistance fighters burst into a lavish dinner party where Seelers is singing, and shoot Nazi officers. Within the next few weeks, however, a considerable number of underground operatives are captured and shot while carrying out ambushes and sabotage missions. It begins to look as though Deventer's suspicions about Seelers were correct, which weighs on his heart, because the two have fallen in love.
Ultimately, as Allied troops and the local resistance begin to turn the tide against the Nazis, "The Scarf" is revealed to be the real collaborator, and Deventer executes him. Seelers, who had loyally served the underground and almost been killed, turns up safe with British troops, and the two lovers are reunited.
Shooting of a scene for Betrayed in Maastricht. Clark Gable walks past a crowd (1953)
The film was at one stage known as The True and the Brave, with Kirk Douglas mentioned as a possible star.[3]Richard Widmark was at one stage a forerunner for the part played by Victor Mature.[4]Ava Gardner was to play the female lead, but was eventually replaced by Lana Turner.[5]
It was the final film Gable made for MGM under his contract, which ended in March 1954.[8] His next two films were released by 20th Century Fox.
Release
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $1,966,000 in the U.S. and Canada, and $2,211,000 in other markets, resulting in a profit of $821,000.[1]
Critical reception
In a 1954 review in The New York Times, critic Bosley Crowther wrote: "By the time this picture gets around to figuring out whether the betrayer is Miss Turner or Mr. Mature, it has taken the audience through such a lengthy and tedious amount of detail that it has not only frayed all possible tension, but it has aggravated patience as well. Miss Turner and Mr. Gable have had many long-winded talks; Mr. Mature has thumped his chest like Tarzan and bellowed his boasts a score of times. An excess of espionage maneuvering has been laid out on the screen. The beauties of the countryside of the Netherlands have been looked at until they pall."[2]
Home media
Betrayed was released on DVD and digital download on March 23, 2009, as part of the Warner Archive.[9]
References
^ abcThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^Schallert, E. (Jul 30, 1953). "River boat perennial bought; london tale of reincarnation set". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest166494673.
^Schallert, E. (Aug 28, 1953). "Vistarama exhibited; justin rival of power, spy role for widmark". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest166536709.
^"U.S. GROUP TO LEAVE FOR FILM IN AFRICA: Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews Will Make 'Duel in Jungle' in Kruger National Park". The New York Times. July 18, 1953. p. 6.
^THOMAS M PRYOR (Jan 27, 1954). "CHAMPION TO FILM E. E. HALE CLASSIC". The New York Times. ProQuest113154208.
^Warren, Patricia. British Film Studios: An Illustrated History. Batsford, 2001. p.85
^THOMAS M PRYOR (Dec 18, 1953). "GREER GARSON TO DO A MOVIE IN ENGLAND". The New York Times. ProQuest112727444.
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