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Reserved for the Death
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Wikipedia article
'Reserved for the Death' is an East German film. It was released in 1963.
Plot
Former East German engineer Erich Becker had been lured to West Germany by promises of a high reward. Now residing in Stockholm, he is recalled to serve as a spy in the East. He is to convince Dr. Jadenburg to flee from the GDR with the help of his daughter Hanna, who works for the West. While travelling on the train with Hanna, he is told that he is also to murder another agent who betrayed and now works for the Stasi. The traitor is revealed to be a former friend of Becker, Harry Korb. Becker cannot bring himself to kill Korb when they meet. Korb tells him that it was all a test to prove if he is reliable; since Becker failed, Korb murders him. The Stasi agents capture Korb soon after.
Cast
* Hans-Peter Minetti: Erich Becker
* Peter Herden: Harry Korb
* Irma Mnch: Hanna Melvien
* Martin Flrchinger: Dr. Jadenburg
* Hannjo Hasse: Captain Donath
* Peter Sturm: conductor
* Heinz Hinze: Charles Renier
* Herbert Kfer: Cellist
* Hans Klering: blonde man
* Horst Schnemann: Stein
* Werner Lierck: young husband
* Gertrud Brendler: Mrs. Simmel
* Klaus Gendries: Border Police officer
* Harry Studt: Grott
Production
'Reserved for the Death' was, according to author Sabine Hake, one of a "hyperbole of espionage thrillers" produced soon after the erection of the Berlin Wall.Sabine Hake. 'German National Cinema'. Routledge (2002). . Page 125.
Writer Gerhard Bensch told in an interview that the plot was based on "numerous authentic documents, files and details" gleaned by him from the intelligence services.Thomas Lindenberger (editor). 'Massenmedien im Kalten Krieg: Akteure, Bilder, Resonanzen'. Bhlau Verlag (2006). . Pages 5556. After an evaluation board of DEFA viewed the unedited picture before its release, its members concluded that the producers managed to create a "good picture... Exposing the inhuman methods of the Imperialists... And allowing the audience to see the experiences of our society's heroes, engaged in brutal class struggle."Bernd Stver. 'Die Befreiung vom Kommunismus. Amerikanische 'Liberation Policy' im Kalten Krieg 19471991'. Bhlau (2002). . Pages 581582.
Reception
The reviewer of the East German 'Berliner Zeitung' called the film "a better-than-average criminal film, that will surely be well received by the public."'Berliner Zeitung'. 13 June 1963. On 5 July 1963, the film critic of the West German 'Rheinische Merkur' wrote that the film was a "disturbing piece of nonsense... Communist picture of the lowest sort."
The German Film Lexicon described "Reserved for the Death" as "a lurid, watchable spy film."'[http://www.zweitausendeins.de/filmlexikon/?sucheNach=titel&wert=58600 Reserviert fr den Tod]'. 2001.de.
Peter Ulrich Weiss added that it was a typical 'saboteur film', that presented a negative portrayal of West Germany.Uta A. Balbier, Christiane Rsch (editors). 'Umworbener Klassenfeind: das Verhltnis der DDR zu den USA'. Links (2006). . Page 173.
References
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