Clark Gable's portrayal of Pieter Deventer, an intelligence agent for the Dutch government in exile during World War II, leaves much to be desired in this espionage drama. The film kicks off with an improbable sequence in which Deventer is miraculously rescued by Dutch resistance fighters from a heavily fortified German occupied chateau. This moment sets the tone for the entire movie, one where believability is thrown out the window in favor of Hollywood melodrama.
The central plot revolves around the transformation of nightclub singer Carla Van Oven (played by Lana Turner) into a spy, with Pieter as her reluctant mentor. Carla's dubious past and questionable associations add an element of intrigue, but unfortunately, the film squanders this potential. During her training in England, not much of consequence occurs, except for the predictable blossoming of a romance between Pieter and Carla. However, this subplot is marred by Pieter's inexplicable absence for a significant portion of Act 2, leaving the audience disconnected and frustrated.
When Carla infiltrates the Netherlands disguised as a German collaborator, she encounters "The Scarf" (Victor Mature), the leader of the Dutch resistance. Mature's portrayal feels misplaced, as he sounds distinctly American and fails to capture the gravity of the character. Moreover, his constant unwanted advances towards Carla become tiresome and detract from the narrative.
Pieter resurfaces when the Resistance faces multiple ambushes and a suspected mole within their ranks. Unfortunately, this development sidelines Lana Turner for most of rest of the film, diminishing her character's importance.
The plot twists and turns, with Pieter initially suspecting Carla as the traitor, only to discover the real culprit is "The Scarf." This revelation comes after enduring moments of unnecessary tension and confusion, which do little to enhance the story.
"The Scarf" is portrayed as having a disturbing fixation on his mother and reacts with disproportionate rage when his fellow Dutchmen shave his mother's head, accusing her of collaboration.
One glaring issue is the lack of effort from the three lead actors to adopt Dutch accents, making their characters feel even more disconnected from the wartime setting. In what turned out to be Gable's final film for MGM, his tired and aged appearance does a disservice to the role of Pieter Deventer.
In the end, "Betrayed" disappoints with its lack of action and suspense, failing to do justice to the compelling backdrop of World War II. It's a forgettable entry in the annals of war cinema, lacking the authenticity and depth that this historical period deserves.
The central plot revolves around the transformation of nightclub singer Carla Van Oven (played by Lana Turner) into a spy, with Pieter as her reluctant mentor. Carla's dubious past and questionable associations add an element of intrigue, but unfortunately, the film squanders this potential. During her training in England, not much of consequence occurs, except for the predictable blossoming of a romance between Pieter and Carla. However, this subplot is marred by Pieter's inexplicable absence for a significant portion of Act 2, leaving the audience disconnected and frustrated.
When Carla infiltrates the Netherlands disguised as a German collaborator, she encounters "The Scarf" (Victor Mature), the leader of the Dutch resistance. Mature's portrayal feels misplaced, as he sounds distinctly American and fails to capture the gravity of the character. Moreover, his constant unwanted advances towards Carla become tiresome and detract from the narrative.
Pieter resurfaces when the Resistance faces multiple ambushes and a suspected mole within their ranks. Unfortunately, this development sidelines Lana Turner for most of rest of the film, diminishing her character's importance.
The plot twists and turns, with Pieter initially suspecting Carla as the traitor, only to discover the real culprit is "The Scarf." This revelation comes after enduring moments of unnecessary tension and confusion, which do little to enhance the story.
"The Scarf" is portrayed as having a disturbing fixation on his mother and reacts with disproportionate rage when his fellow Dutchmen shave his mother's head, accusing her of collaboration.
One glaring issue is the lack of effort from the three lead actors to adopt Dutch accents, making their characters feel even more disconnected from the wartime setting. In what turned out to be Gable's final film for MGM, his tired and aged appearance does a disservice to the role of Pieter Deventer.
In the end, "Betrayed" disappoints with its lack of action and suspense, failing to do justice to the compelling backdrop of World War II. It's a forgettable entry in the annals of war cinema, lacking the authenticity and depth that this historical period deserves.