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Shining Through
Directed by
David Seltzer
R
1992
2h 12m
Drama
,
Romance
,
and more
6.4
41%
72%
Add to Watchlist
An American woman of Irish and Jewish-German parentage goes undercover in Nazi Germany.
More
Where to Watch Shining Through
Amazon Video
Rent $3.79
Buy $9.99
Apple TV
Rent $3.99
Buy $9.99
Fandango At Home
Rent $3.99
Buy $9.99
+2 more
Cast of Shining Through
Michael Douglas
Ed Leland
Melanie Griffith
Linda Voss
Liam Neeson
Franze-Otto Dietrich
Joely Richardson
Margrete Von Eberstein
John Gielgud
Sunflower
Hansi Jochmann
Hedda Drescher
Mathieu Carrière
Von Haefler
Thomas Kretschmann
Mann in Zürich
Constanze Engelbrecht
Stafson Von Neest
Hans Martin Stier
Taxifahrer
Michael Gempart
Mann in der Kinderstrasse
Anthony Walters
Dietrich's Son
Francis Guinan
Andrew Berringer
Patrick Winczewski
Fishmonger
Victoria Shalet
Dietrich's Daughter
Sheila Allen
Olga Leiner, Margrete's Mother
Stanley Beard
Linda's Father
Sylvia Syms
Linda's Mother
Ronald Nitschke
Horst Drescher
Peter Flechtner
S.S. Officer at Fish Market
Alexander Hauff
S.S. Officer at Fish Market
Renate Cyll
Woman in Fish Market
Dana Gladstone
Street Agitator
Lorinne Vozoff
Personnel Director
Deirdre Harrison
USO Singer
Wolf Kahler
Border Commandant
Wolfe Morris
Male Translator
William Hope
Kernohan
Nigel Whitmey
1st G.I. in Canteen
Rob Freeman
2nd G.I. in Canteen
Lisa Orgolini
Girl in Canteen
Jay Benedict
Wisecracker in War Room
Klaus Münster
Cab Driver
Markus Napier
S.S. Officer
Martin Hoppe
German Soldier
Fritz Eggert
German Soldier
Ludwig Haas
Hitler
Clement von Franckenstein
BBC Interviewer
Lorelei King
Leland's New Secretary
Hana Maria Pravda
Babysitter
Markus Kissling
Swiss Border Guard
Anna Tzelniker
Cleaning Woman
Andrzej Borkowski
German Refugee
Simon De Deney
S.S. Man
Tusse Silberg
Woman Dinner Guest at Drescher's
Suzanne Roquette
Woman Dinner Guest at Drescher's
Roy Alon
Cook (uncredited)
Juliet Aubrey
Brunette at Dance (uncredited)
Lucien Morgan
Jock (uncredited)
Mary Ann Schmidt
Women's Air Force Dancer (uncredited)
David Seltzer
Director / Writer
Susan Isaacs
Writer
Carol Baum
Producer
Howard Rosenman
Producer
Shining Through Ratings & Reviews
匚卂尺ㄥ
June 15, 2025
Though I never read the book, personally I feel that this is an overly criticized and highly under rated movie. It's been awhile since I saw it so forget all the plot intricacies, but do recall enjoying this wartime romance at the time. As others have noted, it is definitely more a love story than a spy thriller. Also, I was sufficiently impressed with the performances by all three leads but especially Liam Leeson. The plot revolves around an American spy master, Ed Leland, who reluctantly sends his secretary, Linda Voss, on a dangerous mission to Berlin, refusing to admit to himself that he has feelings for her personally. Voss is sent to spy on a high level German army officer named Dietrich, being deemed suitable for the task because she speaks fluent German. This secretary is half Jewish herself, and part of her motivation is actually to find some of her relatives who are in hiding. She thus goes undercover into Nazi Germany as a secretary turned spy, with little training in survival or espionage. However, she is a great fan of old spy movies and has gleaned a few tips! Perhaps the plot is not that plausible, but the same charge could be laid against any number of other movies. This is mainly a romance and a highly entertaining one. Melanie Griffith is charming here in the role of Linda Voss. She is not a dumb blonde bimbo, nor does she even appear to be. Quite the contrary. Some have complained about her German, but I was interested in the story, and no expert on her accent. Michael Douglas competently portrays the American spy, Leland. Whether or not it is believable that someone in his position cannot speak a word of German, he has a very credible chemistry with Griffith. Liam Neeson is especially excellent, playing with dignity and charisma the complex role of the sensitive but potentially ruthless Nazi officer and devoted family man. Sir John Gielgud, the ultimate professional, is masterful as always and commands any scene in which he appears. I confess that I'm a sucker for wartime romances, love the drama of that era as well as the 1940's styles, so would lap up just about any representative of the genre. While this one may not be a classic, it is a good love story with some gripping action, tension, and suspense. As another also noted, though it may indeed be highly improbable, it is nevertheless highly watchable.
Miami Herald
Ryan Murphy
[Shining Through] is very much like the lush, sweeping, sentimental epics that Hollywood churned out during the '40s -- and as overblown and treacly as any of the patriotic paeans released during those war-torn years.
Hartford Courant
Malcolm Johnson
Lavishly staged in German locations and handsomely costumed -- with some particularly fetching hats for Griffith -- Shining Through is never hard to watch. Sometimes, however, it is ludicrous to listen to.
Filmcritic.com
Pete Croatto
fails as an espionage thriller, but also as a romance
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Bob Bloom
Griffith as an American spy posing as a German during WWII. Gimme a break!!!
Moviehole
Caffeinated Clint
The word 'bore' comes to mind
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
Here is a film in which scene after scene is so implausible that the movie kept pushing me outside and making me ask how the key scenes could possibly be taken seriously.
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