Did she still suspect that Nora would leak information? Or was there any other reason?
I'm still purplexed about that killing, coz it seemed pretty clear Nora would go back to her children and that by that time, she had even developed feelings for Curtis.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Because Frieda couldn't afford to take the chance that Nora was trustworthy. Having lived/survived for so long in Nazi Germany, she had learned not to take any chances and to keep security watertight. If bumping off an innocent was the only way to ensure her and her team survived, then she'd do it.
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That scene was a shocker --- unexpected.
I was just thinking how unrealistic it was that they would let her live, when BAM! - I can't believe she just shot her!
Nice, unique shocker there.
CinemaMig said it right, lol. I was like there's no way they can let her live. It had nothing to do with her intentions or trustworthiness. It had to do with orders and the efficient interrogation techniques of the enemy.
But then when the scene started setting up I said out loud "I can't believe they're going to kill S. L.!!!!"
Probably the best scene in the movie.
Indeed, Frieda is clearly distressed at what she had just done...
shareAs a plot element, since all the other people involved ended up dead - even George Peppard - it made sense to kill off Nora so that the audience would not be left wondering "Did Nora tell the Nazis what she knew once the Peppard died in the munitions bombing and it was obvious that Allied spies had infiltrated the Nazi ranks?" That would have put Freda in jeopardy as well. So why not have Freda kill off Nora?
It also makes for some unexpected gasps from the audience: I mean, WHO has the heartlessness to kill a desperate beautiful mother like SOPHIA LOREN?
Good casting choice!
"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"
I think you are all right, she i also believe was not going to talk, the signature to get her kids home was all she did want, she even could have talked at the end when george peppard was giving his papers to the policeman, if she had shouted out then, she could have lived, so i reckon she was on the level. The problem i think Freda had was she could have accidently said something to someone, that an informer or someone loyal to the state could have picked up on, and got freda and the whole crew killed and tortured so she did not want to take the chance, i feel also she was cut up about it as she knew nora was innocent, and just another poor sod caught up in the awful war
shareThe "good casting choice" was so that the Pontis could claim back some of their investment as producers and keep the money in the family. Also, because it's known the Sciccilones, especially Sophia's sister, were close to the Mussolinis, I think the open question whether Sophia herself was a Fascisti sympathiser or not added a little spice.
shareGood answers all! But I think we are overlooking something, or maybe I misunderstood something in the earlier scenes. Nora had reported her husband missing, and the British Intelligence didn't know if Van Ostegam was dead or alive. What if Nora had been called upon later to explain how she got her husband to sign that document after his death and impersonation by a British spy? She might have spilled her guts, in which case Nora herself would have been collateral damage, as well as the bellman, the boat captain, and who else?
I myself was struck with how readily--smilingly!--Nora accepted Curtis' explanation that Nora didn't have to be killed. Come to find out she wasn't buying that at all. It wouldn't have made much sense to me if she hadn't stepped up to the plate and did the dastardly deed.
Well seeing as this part wasn't true anyway it didn't matter.
That whole this with SL was a waste of time slowing down the film, don't get me wrong I love her but all the same.
Yes I know the reason for her casting.
One other item did the agents know this would be a Suicide mission?
See some stars here
http://www.vbphoto.biz/
I would say that they did know it would be a suicide miision because they must have know that once they got into the facility then there was no way they'd ever get out.
People in those days made the ultimate scrafice for the greater good.
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Frieda was one cold bitch. Poor Nora just innocently stumbled into the situation, and half an hour later she's been executed and her kids are orphans. They'll neve even know what happened to her.
shareI think that we all agree what happened to Nora was terrible, even Frieda seemed to feel dreadful about doing it. I can, reluctantly, see why they did it, so that Nora would not get hauled in for questioning and give something away. However, her disappearing just like that, when she had probably told people where she was going, would that not create suspicion?
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