User reviews

George Sanders stars with Marguerite Chapman in "Appointment in Berlin," a 1943 film directed by Alfred E. Green.

Sanders plays Keith Wilson, who is disgusted by his fellow Brits believing that Hitler will abide by any non-aggression treaty and speaks out against their passivity. Because he is an RAF officer, he is dismissed from the service. A friend (Alan Napier) in the secret service recruits him to pose as a traitor/Nazi sympathizer and spy for England.

Wilson is given the job of doing radio broadcasts, and by embedding a code in his speeches, he is able to give valuable information to Britain. Meanwhile, he falls for his Nazi boss' sister Ilse (Chapman), who seems unsupportive of her brother's actions.

Though this is kind of a downer - it's about war, after all - it's a good movie. Sanders gives his usual smooth, charming performance, though I think he was capable of much more. He had a wonderful voice and screen presence and livened up many a film.

I also liked Gail Sondergaard as a member of the underground. I actually didn't find Marguerite Chapman was all that good, though very pretty. Many years ago, before the Internet, I used to get a magazine for memorabilia collectors, and she had an ad in the classifieds to sell her personal memorabilia. I actually wasn't familiar with her at that time.

Worth seeing.

Upon learning that Prime Minister Chamberlain has made peace with Nazi Germany, a British officer by the name of "Wing Commander Keith Wilson" (George Sanders) becomes quite angry and voices his concern that Hitler will not keep his word. Unfortunately, he then proceeds to get exceedingly drunk and commits some indiscretions while in uniform for which he is subsequently court-martialed for behavior unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman. Ironically, his predicament draws the attention of the British Secret Service who not only believe like he does but also realize that he may be quite useful to them as a spy against the Germans in the near future. But first they have to make him appear to be valuable to the Germans and to do that they will have to destroy his reputation in the process. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this movie was made during World War 2 and includes the usual nationalistic sentiment one would expect from a film produced during this particular time. It goes with the territory. Even so, it was still entertaining in its own right and because of that I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

I love George Sanders; he is one of my favorite actors of all time. And this film is the perfect vehicle for his talents. The movie has it all; suspense, drama, and romance. The writing is top-notch, and the acting matches the level of the plot, which is riveting. Not to be missed. This is what a real spy movie is all about; not that James Bond crap. Enjoy films that can no longer be made with integrity during the 21st century,

An entertaining diversion, certainly during Covid-19 lockdown.

George Sanders is the primary talent, though Gale Sondergaard makes a very good fist of limited screen time.

Rattling good yarn. Don't expect much from the action sequences or special effects, but fills 90-minutes very ably and entertainingly.

USA-born Director Alfred E. Green is perhaps best known for the LONE WOLF TV series, but he does a good job of advancing British nationalism in APPOINTMENT IN BERLIN, which sees RAF wing commander Keith Wilson (superbly played by George Sanders) convey his unhappiness about then Prime Minister Chamberlain's meeting with Chancellor Adolf Hitler in Munich in 1938, and promising peace.

To cut a long story short, Sanders goes down in life with accusations of treason, but he is cleverly used by the British Secret Service to act as a double agent. Inevitably, some suspension of disbelief is needed, but I did not find it hard - Sanders and the beautiful and dignified Marguerite Chapman, plus all the Gestapo villains, make it riveting stuff.

It is more of a B than an A production, with an at times contrived plot, especially the convenient aircraft at the end finding the Dutch resistance pocket in the darkest of night, and providing Sanders with means of escape and communication... but all in a good cause! 7/10.