The Hiding Place

I caught this movie again on cable over the weekend, 25 years after I first saw it in 1975. It was certainly interesting to view it at such drastically different points in my life. This is the powerful story of the family of Corrie Ten Boom, who died at age 91 in 1983. She and her family (Dutch watchmakers) hid Jews from the Nazis in an attic room over their home/shop during WWII. They were eventually caught and sent to Ravensbruck. But the story of who lives and who doesn't is overshadowed by the powerful lessons of love (both God's love for man and man's love for other men), and by the importance and power of forgiveness. It paints a stiking picture of Christ's concept of turning the other cheek. Julie Harris is great as Corrie sister Betsie, and I can't believe that Jeanette Clift (Corrie) never made another movie. She brought the character to life beautifully. Also stars legendary character actors Arthur O'Connell (his last film) and Eileen Heckart. Corrie Ten Boom herself makes an appearance at the end of the film. Made by World Wide Films (Billy Graham's film production company) with a haunting score by Tedd Smith.

While others might not agree, the religious content of this feature while bordering on the preachy side, was well suited if one is at all familiar with Corrie ten Boom and her other works. The horrors Corrie and her sister Betsy faced in Ravensbruk concentration camp were just barely covered. It's a must watch for those interested in the horrors of the Holocaust. While it is admittedly evangelistic, it is gives an excellent view of what good can come out of sufferring. The cameo at the end of Corrie ten Boom herself in her beloved Beje (the ten Boom name for their watch repair/clockshop/home in Haarlem, The Netherlands) made it for me. An excellent and moving experience.

High production values and convincing acting make this film one of the best of the faith based films to date. Based on a true story one cannot help but be moved by the horrors of the Holocaust. Yet at the same time we are inspired by its compelling presentation of the power of faith and the will to survive. The bond of love between the two sisters is especially moving. Julie Harris and Jeannette Clift both provide nuanced and convincing portrayals of the ten Boom sisters. Jeannette Clift received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of the older sister Corrie ten Boom. Unfortunately this film has long been overlooked by the mainstream critics and movie goers. There seems to be a cultural bias against faith based films that has prevented this film from receiving it's due credit. I highly recommend this film!

It follows the experiences of the Dutch Reformed Ten Boom family in Haarlem, Netherlands, during World War II. This film was the original movie production based on the book by Corrie Ten Boom.

Casper Ten Boom (Arthur O'Connell) and his daughters, Corrie (Jeannette Clift) and Betsie (Julie Harris) have run a multi-generational watch repair shop in Haarlem. They are devout Christians with a robust Reformed theology. After Germany invades the Netherlands in 1940, Casper initially protests by wearing a Jewish star. The family also begins to help Jewish refugees trying to escape German rule. A brother, Willem (Robert Rietti), lives in the countryside, and his family is also deeply involved in the underground resistance. The family hides a wide variety of Jews, some practicing, some secular. They build a hiding place in their home to conceal the Jews in the event of searches by the authorities.

About halfway through the film, the authorities catch the Ten Boom family. Casper, Corrie, and Betsie are imprisoned locally. Here, Corrie builds a relationship with a trustie prisoner, Katje (Eileen Heckart), who, after three years in prison, knows how to game the system. When the Allies threaten to take the Netherlands, Corrie, Betsie, and Katje are transferred to Ravensbrück, a women's concentration camp in Northern Germany. Their lives and the outcomes of their time there shape the film's final section.

"The Hiding Place" is far superior to the 2023 film version based on a stage play. The 1975 film is much more nuanced and realistic, depicting varying perspectives within the Christian church and the Jewish community. Julie Harris's Betsie is much more believable than the 2023 Betsy. O'Connell, Clift, and Heckart give strong performances.

"The Hiding Place" was produced by a division of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. This fact had several negative impacts on the film. First, some concentration camp/prison horrors are underplayed or only hinted at. Secondly, an evangelical Christian message became increasingly heavy-handed towards the film's end. I didn't mind the numerous earlier religious references that underscored the Ten Booms' devout faith. This approach likely narrowed the movie's appeal to a general audience. Still, "The Hiding Place" has a respectable place in this genre of films.

During the swell of Nazi Germany, the Christian ten Boom family struggle to make safe all who seek sanctuary in their home. They hire a sympathetic builder to create a hiding place in one of their rooms for when the Gestapo are near. A sympathetic German officer benevolently tries to warn the ten Booms that their hiding place is becoming well known and warns them to be extra careful as to whom they trust. What happens next focuses on the ten Boom sisters, Corrie and Betsie, and how they survive the harsh realities that face them and test their faith in God and Jesus. This was Jennette Clift's only movie role and what a role it is, as the main focus of the story, Corrie ten Boom.