AMERICAN TRAITOR: THE TRIAL OF AXIS SALLY

US, 2021, 106 minutes, Colour.

Meadows Williams, Al Pacino, Thomas Kretschmann, Carsten Norgaard, Swen Hemell, Mitch Pileggi

Directed by Michael Polish.

A drama for those interested in World War II stories, especially background stories from the Third Reich, propaganda stories and Goebbels’ radio broadcasts. The story may not be so well-known even in the United States but even less so throughout the world.

Axis Sally was the radio name given to Mildred Gillars, an American who had gone to live in Germany during the 1930s, partnering with a German with whom she was in love, he a producer for the Nazi propaganda programs. She is sought out by Goebbels and promoted to do a program, first up urging Americans not to enter the war, then comments to the troops about their loved ones and being home, singing songs. The screenplay provides several locations for her to sing songs like Yes, we have no bananas or Lili Marleen. Goebbels has a lust for on her, she taking the opportunity of a revolver to shoot him but it has no bullets. Her passport and documents were taken and, like all the programs, she had a strict written text, supervised by Goebbels, to speak from.

These historical episodes are interspersed throughout the film which is about her trial in Washington DC in 1948.

There is a backlash against Mildred, her being taken to court on eight counts of treason. She always looks glamorous, a glamorous blonde, even in the prison cell, but especially her court presence. She is played by Meadow Williams who produced the film aided by personal finances.

The other star of the film is Al Pacino, aged 80, one of those scenery-chilling performances that he did so well. This is one of the best. Sloppy and dowdy at first, seemingly not interested in the case, he comes into his own at the final defence speech, moving the jury to think about Mildred as a person rather than the Nazi propaganda persona, Axis Sally, reading from the text, pressured by Goebbels, passport gone, the always present possibility of death. He makes the distinction between the persona of Axis Sally and actual Mildred. It is quite a moving speech, especially coming after the rather virulent attack by the prosecutor, played by Mitch Pileggi.

Ultimately, Mildred was found not guilty on seven of the eight charges but found guilty of participating in a play about American soldiers, sentenced to 30 years, serving 12, getting out of jail and returning to Ohio as a teacher.

The film is based on a book by Bill Owen, a naive young lawyer in the film, assisting Al Pacino and taking a lot of flak from him. The book was written by Owen with his son, Vance Owen, who produced the film as well. There is an interview with Bill Owen during the final credits.

1. Based on a true story? How well known in the US? Outside the US?
2. The settings in Third Reich Germany, social life, Goebbels, broadcasting, the studios, private life? The settings in Washington DC, 1948, the city, legal offices, the court, prison? The musical score?
3. The narrative using newsreel footage from the period, the experience of the war, German invasion, Americans entering, result, propaganda against the Americans, the Germans losing the war, D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the destruction of Berlin?
4. The intercutting of the narratives, the background of Mildred, going to Germany, her life there, relationship with Max, Goebbels attracted, her being employed for radio broadcasts, texts, no deviating, the messages, praising Germany, initially urging America not to join the war, news about the soldiers, their families, the songs? Her relationship with Max, his encouraging her, devising scenarios for the broadcasts? The play and the later consequences? The effect of D-Day, the Christmas broadcasts at the time of the Battle of the Bulge, eighth of April 1945 and the end of the war? Her disappearing? The relationship with Max, true love, his death?
5. 1948, Mildred being transferred from Germany to the US, having disappeared? In the prison cell, her appearance, manner, age, the later revelation to Bill Owen about her life, abusive parents, surviving, studies, going to Germany, the bond with Max?
6. The introduction to James Laughlin, reputation, manner, the story of the death of the judge collapsing? Deals with the authorities, taking the case? The case of treason, eight counts? His associates, the young woman studying and eventually taking over? The clash with the DA staff? The encounter with Bill Owen, his approach, awkwardness, naivete, having to buy a suit, sitting with Loughlin, being told not to talk, visiting Mildred in jail, listening to her, information for Loughlin?
7. The conduct of the case, the jury, the judge, the prosecution, the vigorous speeches by the prosecution, the attack about treason, the emotional impact for the American public? Loughlin and his seeming lack of interest, joking manner, bypassing questions? The development of the case? The seeming hopelessness?
8. The device of having the historical development of Mildred’s life and work intercut with the trial? Changing sympathies, understanding the implications of the situation, Mildred in Germany, before the war, the relationship with Max, the encounter with Goebbels, his sexual exploitation of her, her pointing the gun at him, firing, no bullets? The risks, the summons by Goebbels? Possible death?
9. The final prosecution speech, patriotism, anger at treason, the effect on the American public?
10. Al Pacino, the tour-de-force of his final speech for the defence, the argument about free speech (and Bill trying to use it), the distinction between Mildred and the persona of Axis Sally, Mildred and her being controlled, fear, always the possibility of death, the gun at the head? The appeal to the jury and what they would have done in such circumstances? The issue of whether she had caused any death of an American? The nature of the broadcasts, the songs, giving information to American families (and this visualised) about their sons being alive?
11. Bill, the visit to Mildred, her telling her story, his sympathy for her?
12. The final verdict, seven counts of not guilty, 30 years for participation in the play? Her serving 12? Out of prison, to Ohio, teaching?
13. The credits, the information about the life and death and careers of each of the characters, Bill Owen writing the book in collaboration with his son?
14. An interesting look at American war history? The fate of other broadcasters, the British, Tokyo Rose?