Famed filmaker Paul Verhoeven has not only built himself a reputation of being one of Hollywood’s most creative minds, but is also responsible for a deep and exceptional catalogue of the world’s greatest and most engrossing movies.
There’s 1990’s Total Recall, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and cult-classic RoboCop from 1987 — but much like a rainbow, there’s always a pot of gold right at the start that helped get the colours flowing.
War movies are an art that have been explored for generations, using global conflics like World War 2 to really tug at the heartstrings and carefully carve a monumental message of bravery, strength and independence for an audience.
The Dutchman, who has been making films for well over half a century, would explore this theme for a 2hr 1m spectacular that helped etch his name among the elite.
Long before he became a household name, Verhoeven brought us Soldier of Orange in 1977. A thriller that doesn’t so much so celebrate the Netherlands’ partisan fighters of WWII but shows them appreciation.
The film synopsis reads: “A Dutch aristocrat and his university friends join the resistance movement against the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
“Others have a different role in the war, as a collaborator. Queen Wilhelmina meanwhile lives in exile in London.”
Among its talented cast is Rutger Hauer who brings life and a dark sense of mystery to its main character, Erik Lanshof.
Then there’s Jeroen Krabbe, Derek de Lint, Eddy Habbema, Susan Penhaligon, Edward Fox, and Lex van Delden among others.
Showing appreciation for the stars of the highly rated blockbuster, one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer noted: “In Dutch or English, the actors emerge as major screen presences and Soldier of Orange is a gutsy, rewarding surprise.”
On the review aggregator site, Soldier of Orange has received a score of 92% from critics and 87% from the audience, and much like what has already been discussed, many feel this was the fuel that skyrocketed Verhoeven to superstardom.
“One of the films that put Paul Verhoeven on the international cinematic map and a perennial favorite in its native Netherlands” mentioned one suer.
While another remarked: “It is a masterpiece. A first-rate war movie that has just about something for everyone, the essence of naive heroism, unspoilt.”
Positives don’t end there, with one superfan describing it as “a meditation on friendship and the loss of youth” and a second adding: “One of my all time favorite WW2 films, possibly the quintessential Dutch Resistence flick. Amazing performances, script, and direction all around.”
But don’t just take their or our word for it, find out yourself. Soldier of Orange is available to stream right now on Amazon Prime Video from £2.49 to rent and £9.99 to buy outright.