Paul Verhoeven has put together an interesting variation on what might be considered an American film form. Although the Americans aren’t the only people who have made World War II pictures, this Dutch film has a distinctly American feel to it.

We are introduced to some of the characters in the opening, which takes place at a college fraternity freshman initiation. German force has risen to the point that England declares war on Germany. The announcement is not given much notice by the characters, and for the most part we assume the Dutch people aren’t concerned. But then bombings from the Germans occur as they push into the Netherlands. The main character, Eric, and his friend Gus attempt to volunteer for the Dutch Army, comically enough, both of them in tuxedos. Very soon the army falls to German occupation before the Dutch had a chance to put up a fight.

The group of friends (we see them gathered together in Eric’s apartment for a group photo) are eventually splintered by the war. Gus, the suave, mustached man, begins working in the Underground, photographing German positions for the English. Robby sets up a radio post in his house at great risk to himself and his fiancee, Esther. Alex, who was a member of the Dutch Army, finds that his parents, of German extraction, were being held by the Dutch (until the occupation), whereupon he joins with the German forces. John, the boxer, gets involved in an Underground transfer of information and is captured, tortured and eventually killed by the Germans. Nico is an organizer, a planner for the Dutch Underground, who decides to stay in his country, while Eric, the main character, is smuggled out to England under the Germans’ noses.

At first fear for himself, a concern for not getting involved in things that seem larger than himself, keeps Eric away from constant invitations to join the Underground. Eric would rather be like his friend, Jacques, who is intent on waiting the war out until he can continue his studies without German control and set up a business. Eric eventually bends to the pleas of what he comes to consider those of his country; to work from the inside, in whatever small capacity, to defeat the Germans.

A series of successful and unsuccessful plots, captures, tortures, escapes and betrayals commence. Eric escapes with Gus to England where they are put into service of the exiled Dutch queen and a wry Dutch minister. Eric and Gus become key instruments in Dutch/English espionage against the Germans in Holland, not realizing they are part of what is only a decoy operation. Not only do the Dutch fall to the Germans early in the war, the English don’t seriously consider them to be a realistic resistance front.

The destruction of individuals in wartime is emphasized by the fate of several members of the group of friends. John is killed by the Germans; Alex is drawn into the German ranks and is an Iron Cross recipient who nearly betrays Eric’s presence in Holland when they accidentally meet; Robby, discovered by the Germans, because he wants to protect his Jewish fiancee Esther, is forced to betray to Dutch Underground many times; and emphasized particularly in the final movement that Gus and Eric are involved with, smuggling key people back to England.

Gradually the friendly forces defeat the Germans and the Queen and Eric come back to Holland in triumph. The Dutch are jubilant, but the victory is soured for Eric who begins to piece together information about the fates of his friends. Gus, Robby, Alex and John are dead. Esther has had her head shaved for collaborating with the Germans, and Jacques, who in essence represents the majority of the Dutch people, has been waiting in his apartment for the war to end and to be allowed to return to his studies; to live life as if there had never been a war.

The story has been pared down to its necessary, although still quite long, running time and is shot in the rather straightforward style of the films of the early forties, which contributes to its grasping the flavor of the period. Casting and acting thoughtfully create Soldier of Orange’s artistic harmony.

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Soldaat van Oranje [Soldier of Orange and Survival Run] (1977)
Netherlands Color 167 minutes
Directed by Paul Verhoeven.
Cast: Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbé, Susan Penhaligon, Edward Fox, Lex van Delden, Derek de Lint, Huib Rooymans, Eddy Habbema, Belinda Meuldijk, Peter Faber, Rijk de Gooyer, Paul Brandenburg, Ward de Ravet, Bert Struys, Reinhard Kolldehoff, Andrea Domburg, Guus Hermus, Hennie Alma, Bert Anfre, Cas Baas, Tom van Beek, Han Blaauw, Arthur Boni, Huib Broos, Jacques Commandeur, Truus Dekker, Bert Dijkstra, Willie Van Heesvelde, Bruni Heinke, Del Henney, Hannah de Leeuwe, John Leddy, Bob Löwestein, Kitty Janssen, Hugo Koolschijn, Wim Kouwenhoven, Con Meyer, Wim de Meyer, Mary Michon, Hero Muller, Johan Schmitz, Karel Sebeste, Serge-Henri Valcke, Henk Votel.
Film Holland production; released by Tuschinski Film Distribution. Produced by Rob Houwer. Screenplay by Gerard Soeteman and Paul Verhoeven, from a novel by Cornelius Hollerhoek and Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema. Art direction by Roland De Groot. Costume design by Elly Claus. Cinematography by Jost Vacano. Edited by Jane Sperr. Music by Rogier van Otterloo.