Max and Helen is a 1990 American drama film directed by Philip Saville and written by Corey Blechman. It is based on the 1982 book Max and Helen by Simon Wiesenthal. The film stars Treat Williams, Alice Krige, Martin Landau, Jonny Phillips, Adam Kotz and Jodhi May. The film premiered on TNT on January 8, 1990.[1][2][3]
| Max and Helen | |
|---|---|
| Based on | Max and Helen by Simon Wiesenthal |
| Screenplay by | Corey Blechman |
| Directed by | Philip Saville |
| Starring | Treat Williams Alice Krige Martin Landau Jonny Phillips Adam Kotz Jodhi May |
| Composer | Christopher Young |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Steven R. McGlothen |
| Cinematography | Elemér Ragályi |
| Editor | Skip Schoolnik |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Production companies | Turner Pictures Citadel Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | TNT |
| Release | January 8, 1990 |
Plot
editBased on the fact-based novel by Nazi-hunter Simon Wiesenthal based on his 1962 prosecution of the head of a German factory whom he learns was a murderous labor camp commandant. To be able to take him to justice, he must find witnesses who can help him. This leads him to Max Rosenberg, a still tormented individual who lost his wife, Helen, in the camps. Initially Max refuses to cooperate, but gradually his story unfolds beginning before the Holocaust. Venice, 1944, Max, a Jewish student, is captured by the Nazis. Hélène, his French fiancée, pretends she is Jewish as well, so they both get deported to Poland. They get married on the train from where they escape, only to be captured again and separated. Max survives a firing squad and flees to Poland where he joins the resistance. Hélène will stay behind in the concentration camp to become the victim of the sadistic German officer, Koeller. In 1960, after surviving the War and the Soviet Gulag, Max finds out that Koeller killed Hélene and starts chasing him to get his revenge. During his manhunt, he meets Simon Wiesenthal, the famous Nazi hunter, who is also trying to catch Koeller.
Cast
edit- Treat Williams as Max Rosenberg
- Alice Krige as Helen Weiss
- Martin Landau as Simon Wiesenthal
- Jonny Phillips as Werner Schultze / Mark Weiss
- Adam Kotz as Peter
- Jodhi May as Miriam Weiss
- Nicholas Woodeson as Martin Greenbaum
- Lulee Fisher as Judith
- Ian Bartholomew as Magistrate
- Zoltán Gera as Elderly Man
- John Grillo as Joseph Weiss
- Aviva Goldkorn as Mrs. Weiss
- Béla Jáki as SS Officer / Camp
- Richard Kane as Businessman
- István Kanitzsai as SS Officer Train
- Péter Kertész as Otto
- János Kulka as Berek
- Ági Margitai as Wanda
- Mátyás Margittai as Balke
- Ferenc Némethy as Ackerman
- Gábor Salinger as Gershan
- Ottó Ulmann as Rubin
References
edit- ^ Ray Loynd (January 8, 1990). "TV Reviews : 'Max and Helen': Holocaust Survivors' Odyssey of Love". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ "Tnt'S Glorious Love Story 'Max And Helen' Relives Terror Of The". Chicago Tribune. January 8, 1990. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ Jason Ankeny. "Max and Helen (1990) - Philip Saville". AllMovie. Retrieved November 17, 2018.