For Eyes Only
Encyclopedia
For Eyes Only is an East German espionage film. It was released in 1963.
in Germany, from which countless saboteurs and spies have been sent over the border to wreak havoc in East Germany. The United States plans to invade the country, after staging an internal uprising as a provocation to intervene. The plans are held by Collins, Hansen's superior. The latter intends to steal them, but has to evade the suspicions of security officer Rocker, who knows there is a leak. He is assisted by his chauffeur, František, who discovered his covert identity but intends to help him, in order to return to his homeland Czechoslovakia. The two manage to steal the safe with the invasion plans and cross the border to the East, pursued by the police and army. The plan is uncovered and the invasion has to be canceled.
and to justify it after it was erected. Dramatist Heinz Hafke commented that "the Imperialist forces view the Cold War as a never-ending struggle against the Socialist states. The Cold War can become hot instantly, if the forces of peace will let down their guard. In this film, although we used some artistic freedom, we based the plot on actual people and documents... The setting of the story sometime before 13 August 1961 is justified and is supported by fact." Stöver claimed that the picture was to give the impression that the planned invasion was prevented by building the wall. This was reinforced by the disclaimer
, that announced: "Resemblance to real persons is intended".
The film's plot was loosely based on three actual espionage affairs: primarily, it was modeled after the case of Horst Hesse, an East German agent who infiltrated the American Military Intelligence Division
in 1955 and managed to smuggle out two safes containing classified documents, which allowed the Stasi to uncover some 140 spies. Hesse was celebrated as a hero in East Germany - largely due to the film's success - but later research established that his role in the operation was exaggerated. The chief protagonist Hansen was meant to allude to him. The invasion plans mentioned in the film were inspired by DECO II, an operational plan of the Bundeswehr
to attack the GDR, which was known to the Stasi since 1955 but was granted great publicity in early 1960s as proof for the danger of imminent invasion. The producers also mentioned MC-96, a NATO plan to use tactical nuclear weapons in East Germany, as another inspiration. The fifth column of Western saboteurs referred to in the film, that were to organize a second '17 June 1953
', was based on a network uncovered in 1959, when three American agents related to it were captured in Karl-Marx-Stadt. Thomas Lindenberger (editor). Massenmedien im Kalten Krieg: Akteure, Bilder, Resonanzen. Böhlau Verlag (2006). ISBN 978-3412231057. Pages 62-75.
The producers received full cooperation from the Stasi, and several officers from the service were used as consultants. Director János Veiczi saw actor Alfred Müller in theater, playing Phileas Fogg
, and offered him the main role. Principal photography took place in Leipzig
. Müller, who had no driving license, was only shot in the Opel Kapitän
used in the filming when it was pushed or towed, while a member of the production team drove it in the car chase scenes.
both received the National Prize of East Germany
, 3rd Class for For Eyes Only Erich Mielke
had personally awarded the National People's Army
Medal of Merit to Thürk, editor Christel Ehrlich, the dramatists and the leading actors. Composer Günter Hauk was awarded the Heinrich Greif Prize
on 17 May 1966, in recognition of his work on the picture's soundtrack.
The film was received in a highly positive manner in the East German press: on 23 July 1963, the critic of the Schweriner Volkszeitung wrote: "it is thrilling, because its plot is true: a real plan to invade our country existed, but had to be canceled after 13 August 1961." In 10 August 1963, a commentator in Das Freie Wort noted "there is nothing fictional in there... Bonn constantly declares its intention to 'free' East Germany."
Peter Ulrich Weiß, who researched Cold War media in East Germany, pointed out that the film presented a highly politicized portrayal of the characters: Stasi agent Hansen was depicted as humane and devoted to his country, while being contrasted with the West Germans: he was only suspected, as one of the MID personnel tells in the film, because "he is the only one from the East... and the only one to have served during World War II merely as an infantry corporal. All the rest of our German employees have all either been in the SD or the Gestapo, or at the least in the SS." The Americans in the film - whose authenticity was enhanced by having the actors speak in American English, with a German dubbing over it - were all negative characters: one is active in trading stolen art, others are serial fornicators and another makes antisemitic remarks. One more Cold War token figure was the Czechoslovak driver of Hansen, who longs to return to his Socialist homeland. When he realizes his employer is a spy, he volunteers to help him in exchange for being allowed to flee with him to East Germany. Daniela Berghahn considered For Eyes Only as the most famous and successful spy thriller ever made in the GDR.
Plot
1961, West Germany. Hansen is a man who escaped from the German Democratic Republic and now works for an American company called Concordia. In fact, Hansen is an agent of the Stasi, and Concordia is the headquarters of Military Intelligence DivisionMilitary Intelligence Division
The Military Intelligence Division was a military intelligence branch of the United States Army, established in 1885. It was the first standing intelligence agency of the Army; the Union Army had had a Bureau of Military Information, but that had reported to the Commanding General for less than a...
in Germany, from which countless saboteurs and spies have been sent over the border to wreak havoc in East Germany. The United States plans to invade the country, after staging an internal uprising as a provocation to intervene. The plans are held by Collins, Hansen's superior. The latter intends to steal them, but has to evade the suspicions of security officer Rocker, who knows there is a leak. He is assisted by his chauffeur, František, who discovered his covert identity but intends to help him, in order to return to his homeland Czechoslovakia. The two manage to steal the safe with the invasion plans and cross the border to the East, pursued by the police and army. The plan is uncovered and the invasion has to be canceled.
Cast
- Alfred Müller: Hansen
- Helmut Schreiber: Major Ted Collins
- Ivan Palec: František
- Hans Lucke: Colonel Rock
- Werner Lierck: Schuck
- Martin Flörchinger: Stasi colonel
- Peter Marx: Hartmann
- Eva-Maria HagenEva-Maria HagenEva-Maria Hagen is a German actress and singer. She is the mother of Nina Hagen.-Selected filmography:-External links:...
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: Max - Gerd E. Schäfer: Charly
- Christine Laszar: Hella
- Ingrid Ohlenschläger: Liz
- Renate Geißler: Gisela
- Marion van de KampMarion van de KampMarion van de Kamp is a German actress and television announcer. Born in Wuppertal to Dutch parents she attended the drama school in Dresden, East Germany and worked at theaters in Meiningen, Görlitz, Plauen, Schwerin and Leipzig. In 1953 she started working for the Deutscher Fernsehfunk, the...
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: Stasi agent - Norbert Flohr: Manfred
- Peter Friedrich: bearded man
- Georg Gudzent: MID general
- Hans Köcke: man with glass eye
Production
The idea to make For Eyes Only was conceived by dramatist Hans Lucke, who also played in the film. Although the its main theme - the planned invasion of the GDR by American-led NATO forces - was a common motif in East German propaganda since the beginning of the Cold War, author Bernd Stöver viewed For Eyes Only as the final link in a chain of publications, starting at 1958, intended by the government to demonstrate the necessity of building the Berlin WallBerlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
and to justify it after it was erected. Dramatist Heinz Hafke commented that "the Imperialist forces view the Cold War as a never-ending struggle against the Socialist states. The Cold War can become hot instantly, if the forces of peace will let down their guard. In this film, although we used some artistic freedom, we based the plot on actual people and documents... The setting of the story sometime before 13 August 1961 is justified and is supported by fact." Stöver claimed that the picture was to give the impression that the planned invasion was prevented by building the wall. This was reinforced by the disclaimer
All persons fictitious disclaimer
An all persons fictitious disclaimer is a disclaimer in which a work of media states that all persons portrayed in it are fictitious. This is done to reduce the possibility of legal action for libel from any person who believes that he or she has been libeled via their portrayal in the work .Such a...
, that announced: "Resemblance to real persons is intended".
The film's plot was loosely based on three actual espionage affairs: primarily, it was modeled after the case of Horst Hesse, an East German agent who infiltrated the American Military Intelligence Division
Military Intelligence Division
The Military Intelligence Division was a military intelligence branch of the United States Army, established in 1885. It was the first standing intelligence agency of the Army; the Union Army had had a Bureau of Military Information, but that had reported to the Commanding General for less than a...
in 1955 and managed to smuggle out two safes containing classified documents, which allowed the Stasi to uncover some 140 spies. Hesse was celebrated as a hero in East Germany - largely due to the film's success - but later research established that his role in the operation was exaggerated. The chief protagonist Hansen was meant to allude to him. The invasion plans mentioned in the film were inspired by DECO II, an operational plan of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
to attack the GDR, which was known to the Stasi since 1955 but was granted great publicity in early 1960s as proof for the danger of imminent invasion. The producers also mentioned MC-96, a NATO plan to use tactical nuclear weapons in East Germany, as another inspiration. The fifth column of Western saboteurs referred to in the film, that were to organize a second '17 June 1953
Uprising of 1953 in East Germany
The Uprising of 1953 in East Germany started with a strike by East Berlin construction workers on June 16. It turned into a widespread anti-Stalinist uprising against the German Democratic Republic government the next day....
', was based on a network uncovered in 1959, when three American agents related to it were captured in Karl-Marx-Stadt. Thomas Lindenberger (editor). Massenmedien im Kalten Krieg: Akteure, Bilder, Resonanzen. Böhlau Verlag (2006). ISBN 978-3412231057. Pages 62-75.
The producers received full cooperation from the Stasi, and several officers from the service were used as consultants. Director János Veiczi saw actor Alfred Müller in theater, playing Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg
Phileas Fogg is the main fictional character in the 1873 Jules Verne novel Around the World in Eighty Days.Fogg attempts to circumnavigate the late Victorian world in eighty days, or less, for a wager of £20,000 with members of London's Reform Club. He takes the wager and leaves with Passepartout,...
, and offered him the main role. Principal photography took place in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
. Müller, who had no driving license, was only shot in the Opel Kapitän
Opel Kapitän
The Kapitän was the last new Opel model to appear before the outbreak of the Second World War, developed during 1938 and launched in the spring of 1939 at the Geneva motor show. The first Kapitän was available in many different body styles, the most popular one being the 4-door saloon. 2-door...
used in the filming when it was pushed or towed, while a member of the production team drove it in the car chase scenes.
Reception
The film was viewed by 800,000 people in the first month after its release, and also exported to other Eastern Block countries, selling 9,000,000 tickets overall. On 5 October 1964, Veiczi and writer Harry ThürkHarry Thürk
Harry Thürk was a German writer.- Life :After attending trade school in Upper Silesia, Thürk began to work for the German train system . After being drafted in 1944 and participating in World War II, he returned home at the end of the war. However, he was forced to flee from Poland to Weimar...
both received the National Prize of East Germany
National Prize of East Germany
The National Prize of the German Democratic Republic was an award of the German Democratic Republic given out in three different classes for scientific, artistic, and other meritorious achievement...
, 3rd Class for For Eyes Only Erich Mielke
Erich Mielke
Erich Fritz Emil Mielke was a German communist politician and Minister of State Security—and as such head of the Stasi —of the German Democratic Republic between 1957 and 1989. Mielke spent more than a decade as an operative of the NKVD during the rule of Joseph Stalin...
had personally awarded the National People's Army
National People's Army
The National People’s Army were the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic .The NVA was established in 1956 and disestablished in 1990. There were frequent reports of East German advisors with Communist African countries during the Cold War...
Medal of Merit to Thürk, editor Christel Ehrlich, the dramatists and the leading actors. Composer Günter Hauk was awarded the Heinrich Greif Prize
Heinrich Greif Prize
The Heinrich Greif Prize was an East German state award bestowed on individuals for contribution to the state's cinema and television industry.-History:...
on 17 May 1966, in recognition of his work on the picture's soundtrack.
The film was received in a highly positive manner in the East German press: on 23 July 1963, the critic of the Schweriner Volkszeitung wrote: "it is thrilling, because its plot is true: a real plan to invade our country existed, but had to be canceled after 13 August 1961." In 10 August 1963, a commentator in Das Freie Wort noted "there is nothing fictional in there... Bonn constantly declares its intention to 'free' East Germany."
Peter Ulrich Weiß, who researched Cold War media in East Germany, pointed out that the film presented a highly politicized portrayal of the characters: Stasi agent Hansen was depicted as humane and devoted to his country, while being contrasted with the West Germans: he was only suspected, as one of the MID personnel tells in the film, because "he is the only one from the East... and the only one to have served during World War II merely as an infantry corporal. All the rest of our German employees have all either been in the SD or the Gestapo, or at the least in the SS." The Americans in the film - whose authenticity was enhanced by having the actors speak in American English, with a German dubbing over it - were all negative characters: one is active in trading stolen art, others are serial fornicators and another makes antisemitic remarks. One more Cold War token figure was the Czechoslovak driver of Hansen, who longs to return to his Socialist homeland. When he realizes his employer is a spy, he volunteers to help him in exchange for being allowed to flee with him to East Germany. Daniela Berghahn considered For Eyes Only as the most famous and successful spy thriller ever made in the GDR.
External links
- For Eyes Only on the Goethe Institute's website.