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January 19, 2022
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A pre-WWII ‘What if?’ at heart of spy thriller BY CATE MARQUIS SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT
We know the outcome after the 1938 Munich Agreement, which was signed after British and French leaders met with Hitler and agreed to let Germany take the mostly ethnically German Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia, in a failed bid to head off World War II by appeasing Hitler, who claimed to have no further territorial ambitions. But what if British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain knew about Hitler’s true, bigger plans for conquest? That is the “what-if” premise of “Munich: The Edge of War,” a smart, entertaining and well-researched mix of history and ticking-clock spy thriller, starring George MacKay (star of the Oscar winning “1917”) as a young British diplomatic aide and Jeremy Irons as British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain. The story is set mostly around the 1938 Munich Conference, where the British and French prime ministers, Neville Chamberlain (Jeremy Irons) and Edouard Daladier (Stephane Boucher) are trying to hammer out an agreement they hope will prevent the war they fear will follow if Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, as he has announced. Two former friends, who attended Oxford together, but who now work for opposing governments, British Hugh Legat (MacKay) and German Paul von Hartmann (Jannis Niewohner), must reconnect and covertly work together to deliver a document to the British Prime Minister that reveals Hitler’s true plan for territorial expansion. Niewohner’s von Hartmann is an anti-Hitler German who is part of a German plot to remove the Fuhrer, led by General Hans Oster. But the plot can’t move forward unless Hitler invades Czechoslovakia, exposing his intentions to the German people, who fear another war. When von Hartmann comes in possession of a document detailing Hitler’s plan for European conquest, he hatches a plan to get the document to the British Prime Minister through his former friend Legat, who is a minor dip-
George MacKay (above left), Jeremy Irons (above right), Sandra Huller and Jannis Niewohner (left) are shown in ‘Munich - The Edge of War.’ PHOTOS: FREDERIC BATIER/NETFLIX
lomat with Chamberlain’s staff. While the central story is fictional, there is a lot of real history here. There really was a German plot to remove Hitler from power, led by General Hans Oster, in 1938,
and Niewohner’s character is partially inspired by the diplomat Adam von Trott zu Solz, who was part of that. But the film’s plot about getting secret information to Chamberlain is fictional.
In September 1938, after several attempts to negotiate with Hitler over plans to invade Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland, British, French, Italian and German leaders met, without the Czechoslovakians, in another attempt to dissuade Hitler from invading Czechoslovakia, something the British and French feared would trigger a new world war. With assurances from Hitler that he had no other territorial ambitions, Chamberlain signed the 1938 Munich agreement that allow Germany to take the Sudetenland without an invasion. Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler was a critical turning point in the events leading to WWII, encouraging Hitler to put his plans for conquest in motion, and it sealed Chamberlain’s legacy with the stamp of appeasement. See FILM continued on opposite page
Five new series and a film offer something for all friends, are jarred by the sudden death of a mutual friend. They decide that that “life is short” and they have to take chances to I was asleep at the wheel last month shake up their lives. In other words, pivot when “American Auto,” an NBC sit-com from what they have been doing. about a Detroit-based auto company, GINNIFER GOODWIN, 43, plays Jodie, “sneak previewed” its first two episodes. I one of the three friends. Her most memojust caught up with those episodes, which rable roles include playing the third wife are free to view on Peacock and online. of a polygamous renegade Mormon in New episodes air Tuesdays at 8 p.m. “Big Love” on HBO (2006-2011); a Basic plot: a car company, called Payne, romance-seeking young woman in the hit is struggling and its new CEO (Ana film “He’s Just Not That into You” (2010); Gasteyer) has no auto industry experi- and Snow White on the ABC series “Once ence. The flaky Payne top execs don’t help Upon a Time” (2011-2018). her much. They include Wesley (JON Goodwin, who grew up in Memphis, is BARINHOLTZ, 42), the airhead the daughter of a non-Jewish father grandson of the company’s and a Jewish mother. She was founder. raised both Jewish and The series was created and Unitarian (with more expowritten by JUSTIN SPITZER, sure to Judaism). In 2013, she 44. He’s best known for creatsaid that she had left religion ing and writing the behind her 10 years before, NBC “Superstore” series, but she had recently made a which ran for six seasons. His choice to embrace Judaism. wife, JENNA BANS, 47, is best Premiering on Jan. 20 is Ginnifer Goodwin known for creating and writing “Single Drunk Female,” a comethe NBC series “Good Girls,” which aired dy/drama series (Freeform channel/app, 10 for four seasons. p.m.). SOPHIA BLACK-D’ELIA, 29, stars as “Pivoting,” a dramedy series, premiered Samantha Fink, an irreverent alcoholic who on Jan. 9 (9 p.m. on Fox). Here’s the prem- gets into trouble. She avoids jail by moving ise: three middle aged women, who are in with her smothering mother (played by
BY NATE BLOOM
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’80s “brat pack” star ALLY SHEEDY, 59). newcomers. There are no Jewish characBoth actresses have non-Jewish fathers and ters in the first season. However, Jewish mothers. Black-D’Elia calls herself MORGAN SPECTOR, 41, whose father is Jewish and Sheedy has always been secular. Jewish, has a juicy part as George Russell, “As We See It” is an American series a classic “new money” robber baron. I susbased on “On the Spectrum,” an interna- pect in future seasons wealthy Jewish tionally acclaimed Israeli series. All eight, characters will brush up against the old first season “As We See It” episodes will guard. This was the case in later seasons begin streaming on Amazon Prime on of “Downton Abbey.” Jan. 21. The Amazon series, like the “Cyrano,” a musical based on the Israeli series, centers on three famous play “Cyrano De young-ish, autistic persons who Bergerac,” played one theater in live in a hostel for adults with Los Angeles last month to be autism. The hostel staff tries Oscar-eligible. It will open in a to transition these folks into limited number of theaters on independent living. Jan. 21 or 28 and may RICK GLASSMAN, 37, an “expand” in following weeks. American comedian, who has The musical “Cyrano” was first Asperger’s syndrome (a form of an off-Broadway show (2018). It autism), plays one of the three Rick Glassman got good, if not stellar reviews. main characters in the Amazon Peter Dinklage (Tyrion in “Game series. “As We See It” was created by of Thrones”) stars as Cyrano. JASON KATIMS, 61, a veteran show-writThe music for the stage and film verer/producer. He is the father of an autistic sions was composed by twin brothers child. AARON and BRYCE DESSNER, 45. They “The Gilded Age” premieres on HBO on are members of The National, a popular Jan. 24. This “prestige” series was created rock band. The brothers are “Jewishlyby, and written by Julian Fellowes, the Brit involved.” While in college, Aaron worked who created and wrote “Downton Abbey.” at a Holocaust archive. When The National It follows the clash, in the 1880s, between played Poland, he arranged an Auschwitz the old money New York City elite and rich tour for the band and its crew.
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