After a quick scene involving Israel’s concerns over Egypt’s missiles, the story begins with Hamburg-based writer Peter Miller (Voight) pulling his car over to take in the news of JFK’s death on the radio. Then an ambulance zips by. Being curious and always in search of a story to write and sell, he follows. The paramedics were only sent to remove the corpse of an elderly man who committed suicide, the official conclusion from Peter’s friend in the police. Then the two have lunch the following day and the policeman gives Peter the dead man’s journal. They both figure it can be used to make a personal interest story for the various publications Peter sells articles to. Turns out the deceased was Jewish and a survivor from the Riga concentration camp. The events at Riga were well documented too, namely the activities of the camp’s commander, SS Captain Roschmann—a wanted Nazi war criminal the Allies never caught.
Peter becomes obsessed with finding Roschmann yet he finds out very quickly how much other Germans don’t want to talk about their recent past (WWII has only been over for 18 years): His mother doesn’t like to discuss it since his father was killed fighting on the Eastern Front; his police contact tells him to drop it without saying why; his girlfriend is indifferent; and one publisher says no one really cares about the Jews anymore—Peter’s response to that is, many of them were Germans which is why people should care. The Forsyth book had a character who was more truthful to Peter about why Germans didn’t want to open an old wound; everyone knew at least one Jewish family or coworker before the War. Now most are collectively ashamed of what transpired and they really don’t to be reminded. Eventually, Peter’s investigations gets the notice of ODESSA (the organization the SS formed during the final days of WWII to hide their ill-gotten spoils and avoid capture by the Allies). First he’s beaten up by former SS members at their reunion, then ODESSA steps up their threats and intimidation as he appears to be getting closer to finding Roschmann.
By today’s standards, this movie would be a flop since it lacks car chases, gun battles, kung-fu fights and nude scenes. On the other hand, it was one of the few movies I’ve seen that followed the original novel closely. I’m not sure if I found the film rather flat because of all the James Bond I’ve been exposed to or it was more interesting as a book. Maybe a combination of both.