Films in Review, June-July 1969, #904, pp. 379-80
Fräulein Doktor
In addition to Mata Hari (Margaretha Geertruida Zelle) the Germans had other female spies in World War I and one of them was known as "Fräulein Doktor." This film has her be responsible for the sinking of "HMS Hampshire," and hence for the drowning of Lord Kitchener; responsible for the theft of a formula for poison gas from the French; and responsible for learning the disposition of Allied forces in Belgium.
It also has unnecessarily detailed footage of her shooting morphine in her veins; unnecessarily detailed footage of lesbian sex; and elaborately detailed footage of poison gas blistering the skin off Allied soldiers and making them mutiny. Which is to say: Fraulein Doktor is no mere spy "entertainment" but a piece of propaganda designed, as Leftists say, "to disintegrate the West." It's a Yugoslav-Italian co-production.
A curious aspect of this film's politics: the Germans are the victors in each of its by no means authentic episodes.
The title part is played by Suzy Kendall in the dead-pan way that's intended to haide inadequate acting. Capucine, of all people, plays the lesbian French scientist from whom "Fräulein Doctor" steals the poison gas formula. Kenneth More plays a none-too-smart British counter-espionage man. James Booth, an oily double-agent, overacts.
Alberto Lattuada not only directed this propaganda-full spy-er but also collaborated on its script (with Duilio Coletti and Stanley Mann).
--Norman Cecil