Betrayed *** (1988, Debra Winger, Tom Berenger, John Heard, Betsy Blair, John Mahoney, Ted Levine) – Classic Movie Review 6664

Director Constantin Costa-Gavras’s 1988 thriller-with-a-message is extremely powerful and gripping, with strong performances and important things to convey about prejudice, even if it is not always as convincing or distinguished as his masterworks Z (1969) and Missing (1982).

Debra Winger stars as an FBI agent who poses as a combine driver and infiltrates a white supremacy group in the American Mid-West, but falls for its ringleader (played by Tom Berenger), a Mid-West farmer living a double life as supremacist. Winger starts to work on Berenger’s farm, forming a bond with him his children, and he asks her to stay on.

Joe Eszterhas’s Hitchcock-style screenplay reprises the plot of Notorious (1946) and is quite clever and witty until it slips into overwrought gear in the final reel. Winger has the Ingrid Bergman role, Berenger the Claude Rains part, and John Heard, playing Michael Carnes, has the Cary Grant role of the boss who risks the life of the woman he loves be betraying her for the sake of the work. The legendary Notorious does not need to worry about the competition, but Betrayed is still a good movie.

Also in the cast are John Heard, Betsy Blair, John Mahoney, Ted Levine, Jeffrey DuMunn, Albert Hall, David Clennon, Robert Swan, Richard Libertini and Alan Wilder.

The MGM/UA film runs 127 minutes, is shot by Patrick Blossier, produced by Irwin Winkler and Joe Eszterhas, scored by Bill Conti and designed by Patrizia Von Brandenstein.

It tipped gently into profit, costing $19,000,000 and grossing $25,816,139 in the US.

The TV version trims the film’s strong language and violence.

John Mahoney plays Shorty.

Costa-Gavras followed it with Music Box (1989).

Eszterhas is the man behind Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge and Showgirls (1995).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6664

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