Hotel Berlin

The information I'm supplying here is taken from a VCR tape I made of the movie "Hotel Berlin" as it was broadcast on Turner Classic Movies earlier this year.

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"Hotel Berlin" was released in March '45 just before the fall of real life Berlin to the allies in April/May '45. It stars Peter Lorre, Raymond Massey, Andrea King and Fay Emerson along with a number of lesser known actors & actresses. The intro theme music is like that of a funeral dirge which is repeated throughout the movie.

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The action centers around the Hotel Berlin during the closing days of the war. American bombers fill the sky and explosions are all around. Nazi higher-ups as well as the Gestapo are plotting their escape while still holding the party line and enforcing Nazi brutality.

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Massey plays a fiercely loyal Nazi general who has been recalled from the front to be interviewed by the Gestapo. Little does he realize that he's been marked for death because of his role in the most recent attempt on Hitler's life. He has a superficial love affair going on with the female lead, Andrea King, who plays "Lisa Dorn" the actress at the local theater.

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Peter Lorre plays a scientist who, apparently, has been involved in human experiments. His regret over his role in Nazi atrocities causes him to be in a constant state of inebriation.

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Fay Emerson plays "Tillie" who works as an informant for the Gestapo within the hotel. Just before the movie was released Ms. Emerson married the son of FDR, Elliot Roosevelt. This resulted in her getting higher billing than Andrea King.

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For those who are students of WWII as well as old movies, I highly recommend this film. It's a fascinating period piece.

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Jack Rusher Toms River, NJ

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