L'Affaire Nina B. (1961)
Directed by Robert Siodmak

Drama / Thriller
aka: The Nina B. Affair

Film Review

Abstract picture representing L'Affaire Nina B. (1961)
Adapted from a novel by Johannes Mario Simmel, L'Affaire Nina B. is a late entry from the esteemed German film director Robert Siodmak. A dark story of political intrigue and betrayal, the film strongly evokes the earlier film noir masterpieces that Siodmak made during the Hollywood phase of his illustrious career, notably The Spiral Staircase (1945) and The Killers (1946), in spite of having a more formulaic and predictable plot.

The film comes near the end of the second European part of Siodmak's career, during which time he delivered some of his most interesting work - Nachts, wenn der Teufel kam (1957) and Die Ratten (1955). L'Affaire Nina B. is a lesser piece, a plodding genre film that is let down by a lacklustre screenplay and some leaden performances, although the Austrian actress Nadja Tiller has a striking presence in the lead role. There is a strong performance from Pierre Brasseur in one of his last screen roles and a suitably atmospheric score from Georges Delerue. L'Affaire Nina B. does not compare well with Siodmak's earlier French films, which include the noirish Mollenard (1938) and Pièges (1939), but it still manages to be a cut above most French genre films of this era.
© James Travers 2007
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.
Next Robert Siodmak film:
Menschen am Sonntag (1930)

Film Synopsis

The funeral of German businessman Berrera attracts a distinguished crowd of mourners, but few tears are shed.  His chauffeur, Holden, recalls how, shortly after his release from prison, Berrera hired him and offered him a part in a crucial mission.  Crossing the border into East Germany, Berrera obtains some secret documents which expose a number of senior German figures as Nazi war criminals.  On his return to West Germany, Berrera is arrested on a trumped up fraud charge, but only after he has confided the documents in his chauffeur.  Reluctant to betray his employer, Holden resists various threats, but ultimately gives in - not just to Berrera's enemies, but to also to his seductive wife Nina...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by frenchfilms.org and must not be copied.


Film Credits

  • Director: Robert Siodmak
  • Script: Roger Nimier (dialogue), Jacques Robert (dialogue), Johannes Mario Simmel (novel), Robert Siodmak
  • Cinematographer: Michel Kelber
  • Music: Georges Delerue
  • Cast: Nadja Tiller (Nina Berrera), Pierre Brasseur (Berrera), Walter Giller (Holden), Charles Regnier (Schwerdtfeger), Hubert Deschamps (Romberg), Jacques Dacqmine (Dr. Zorn), Maria Meriko (Mila), André Certes (Falkenberg), Nicolas Vogel (Von Knapp), Ellen Bernsen (La secrétaire de Schwerdtfeger), Guy Decomble (Lofting), Philippe Forquet (Le fils de Schwerdtfeger), Etienne Bierry (Dietrich), José Luis de Vilallonga (Kurt), Dominique Dandrieux (Micky), Philippe March (Un barman), Marie Mergey, Jean-Pierre Laverne, Laure Paillette, Robert Berri
  • Country: France / West Germany
  • Language: French
  • Support: Black and White
  • Runtime: 104 min
  • Aka: The Nina B. Affair

The very best of Italian cinema
sb-img-23
Fellini, Visconti, Antonioni, De Sica, Pasolini... who can resist the intoxicating charm of Italian cinema?
The best French Films of the 1910s
sb-img-2
In the 1910s, French cinema led the way with a new industry which actively encouraged innovation. From the serials of Louis Feuillade to the first auteur pieces of Abel Gance, this decade is rich in cinematic marvels.
The best of American film noir
sb-img-9
In the 1940s, the shadowy, skewed visual style of 1920s German expressionism was taken up by directors of American thrillers and psychological dramas, creating that distinctive film noir look.
The best films of Ingmar Bergman
sb-img-16
The meaning of life, the trauma of existence and the nature of faith - welcome to the stark and enlightening world of the world's greatest filmmaker.
The best of Japanese cinema
sb-img-21
The cinema of Japan is noteworthy for its purity, subtlety and visual impact. The films of Ozu, Mizoguchi and Kurosawa are sublime masterpieces of film poetry.
 

Other things to look at


Copyright © frenchfilms.org 1998-2024
All rights reserved



All content on this page is protected by copyright