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Soldier Of Orange
1978
A gripping World War II tale about the Nazi invasion of Holland and its effects upon six wealthy, boisterous college students, SOLDIER OF ORANGE brought director Paul Verhoeven international acclaim. The film focuses on two of the friends, Erik and Gus. Erik escapes to England, and (against his inclinations), joins a resistance .. Read more
| Starring | Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbe, Peter Faber, Derek De Lint |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul Verhoeven |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
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Soldier Of Orange
A gripping World War II tale about the Nazi invasion of Holland and its effects upon six wealthy, boisterous college students, SOLDIER OF ORANGE brought director Paul Verhoeven international acclaim. The film focuses on two of the friends, Erik and Gus. Erik escapes to England, and (against his inclinations), joins a resistance group, and eventually becomes an assistant to the Dutch Queen. Gus, too, leaves Holland and joins a resistance group, but when he murders his friend Bobby -- who has become a Nazi spy -- the Germans exact an unkind revenge upon him. Perhaps the most perplexing of the six men is Jacques, who stays in Holland and continues his studies, unimpeded and uncaring about the war and the Nazi takeover. Based on the true story of Erik Hazelhoff.
| Starring | Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbe, Peter Faber, Derek De Lint, Derek de Lint |
|---|---|
| Director | Paul Verhoeven |
| Studio | PALISADES TARTAN |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 29 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Action/Adventure, Drama |
| Language | Dutch |
| Subtitles | English |
| Released | DVD: 27 May 2002 Production year: 1978 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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Paul Verhoeven's lavish, personal war epic re-creates the Nazi invasion of his native Holland and shows the effects that has on six university students, all but one of whom become involved in the Resistance. Known for his graphic depiction of sex and violence, Verhoeven's approach here is more traditional — in fact this war movie resembles 1960s epics such as Is Paris Burning? — and boasts two splendid leading performances from Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbé. Edward Fox appears as the head of British military intelligence and Susan Penhaligon is on hand to give both Hauer and Krabbé a squeeze when they escape to Britain.
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Engaging, sprawling war movie about Dutch resistance and collaboration, following the career of a hero and his not always heroic friends.
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Most helpful member's review
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13 out of 14 people found this review helpful
Dutch Courage
Soldier of Orange
The new intake of students get to university just before the outbreak of WW2. Their initial reaction to the news is that it will be exciting. The story follows 6 of them during the course of the war. Based on the memoirs of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, the story differs from the usual heroic war film because of the six students one elects to keep his head down, another fights for the Nazis, a third is a Quisling and only two finally get to England to serve Queen Juliana (House of Orange hence the title) through working for British Intelligence. This pair, played by Rutger Hauer and Jeroen Krabbe, seem more interested in who is going to be first into Susan Penhaligon?s knickers than in kicking Nazi butt and their big raid when it does come along doesn?t exactly come off.
At the time of its making this was the most expensive Dutch film ever (possibly still is) chiefly due to the pyrotechnics of the action scenes which although this was one of Verhoeven?s early films clearly foreshadow the action scenes in his later ones such as ?Starship Troopers?.
Outside the action scenes the editing tends to be rather slow compared to the modern frenetic ?MTV? style editing and this gives the film a somewhat laboured feel in parts. Compared to sweeping epics like Private Ryan this film has a far more intimate sense. It concerns itself more with recreating the feel of the WW2 era rather than creating a spectacle for our own era. And there?s never an American in sight. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Cool Dutch war Film
Rutger et al mature from university into the resistance, full of nationalism and naivity. Good character study and fine plotting. A great sunday afternoon flick.
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Soldier Of Orange
A gripping World War II tale about the Nazi invasion of Holland and its effects upon six wealthy, boisterous college students, SOLDIER OF ORANGE brought director Paul Verhoeven international acclaim. The film focuses on two of the friends, Erik and Gus. Erik escapes to England, and (against his ...
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