American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally

American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally
Film poster
Directed byMichael Polish
Screenplay by
  • Vance Owen
  • Darryl Hicks
  • Michael Polish
Based on
Axis Sally Confidential
by William E. Owen
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJayson Crothers
Edited by
  • Raùl Marchand Sánchez
  • Gavin Segall-Abrams
Music byKubilay Uner
Production
companies
  • Diamond Film Productions
  • EFO
  • The Pimienta Film Co.
Distributed by
Release date
  • May 28, 2021 (2021-05-28)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally is a 2021 American historical drama film directed by Michael Polish, from a screenplay by Vance Owen and Darryl Hicks, based on the book Axis Sally Confidential by William E. Owen. It is based on the life of Mildred Gillars, an American singer and actor who, during World War II, broadcast Nazi propaganda to American troops and their families back home. The film stars Al Pacino, Meadow Williams, Swen Temmel, Thomas Kretschmann and Mitch Pileggi.

It was released on May 28, 2021, by Vertical Entertainment and Redbox Entertainment.

Plot

An American woman named Mildred Gillars broadcasts Nazi propaganda during World War II. She is dubbed "Axis Sally" by the American G.I.s who simultaneously love and hate her. The story plunges the viewer into the dark underbelly of the Third Reich's propaganda machine, Sally's eventual capture, and her subsequent trial for treason in Washington D.C. after the war.

The court trial intends to prove that Axis Sally is a traitor to her country. Other Americans who have contributed to Nazi propaganda are called to testify during the trial. The defense is, if one had not done as instructed, the penalty would be deportation to a concentration camp. Her actions were allegedly therefore done under force. Under this logic, she escapes the death penalty. However, she is convicted of treason and sentenced to 30 years in prison, with a possibility of parole after 10.

Cast

Production

In May 2017, it was announced that EFO Films acquired the screenplay Axis Sally by Vance Owen and Darryl Hicks, based on the book Axis Sally Confidential by Willem E. Owen.[1] In November 2018, Al Pacino, Meadow Williams and Swen Temmel joined the cast, with Michael Polish directing.[2][3] In February 2019, Thomas Kretschmann, Mitch Pileggi and Lala Kent joined the cast.[4] In April 2019, Carsten Norgaard joined.[5] It was also announced that Kubilay Uner would compose the film's score.[6]

Principal photography took place in Dorado, Puerto Rico, in February 2019.[7]

Release

In April 2021, Vertical Entertainment and Redbox Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights to the film, which had been retitled American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally, and prepared for its release on May 28, 2021.[8]

Reception

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes surveyed 21 critics and, categorizing the reviews as positive or negative, assessed three as positive and 18 as negative for a 19% rating. Among the reviews, it determined an average rating of 3.7 out of 10.[9]

Hope Madden of UK Film Review said, "Aside from Pacino, the cast is uniformly awful."[10]

Sean Means of Movie Cricket called the film a bore and a production of incompetence.[11]

The film grossed $14,000 on its opening weekend of May 28, 2021, and a later opening release in the United Arab Emirates grossed $8,829. Worldwide it grossed a total of $2,011,012.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (May 17, 2017). "'Axis Sally' Story To Be Broadcast Wide Via Emmett/Furla/Oasis". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  2. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 1, 2018). "Al Pacino, Meadow Williams Star In MoviePass Films Drama 'Axis Sally'". Deadline Hollywood.
  3. ↑ Fuster, Jeremy (November 1, 2018). "Al Pacino, Meadows Williams Join MoviePass Films' 'Axis Sally'". The Wrap.
  4. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (February 11, 2019). "MoviePass Films' 'Axis Sally' Adds Trio To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (April 12, 2019). "'Axis Sally': Carsten Norgaard Joins Al Pacino In Drama From MoviePass Films". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Kubilay Uner to Score Michael Polish's 'Axis Sally'". Film Music Reporter. March 5, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  7. ↑ "MoviePass Films Begins Principal Photography on Axis Sally". Business Wire. February 12, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  8. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (April 22, 2021). "Michael Polish's 'American Traitor: The Trial Of Axis Sally' Gets U.S. Release Date In Vertical-Redbox Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ↑ "American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally (2021) Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved February 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ Madden, Hope (May 28, 2021). "American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally film review". UK Film Review.
  11. ↑ "Review: 'American Traitor' is a misguided bore, a sad mingling of courtroom drama and melodramatic weepie", Sean Means. The Movie Cricket. May 27, 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2026
  12. ↑ "American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally", Box Office Mojo. 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2026
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