Fans of war films may not have seen the incredible entry in the genre by Paul Verhoeven that has been called “the best war film of all time,” by many and is available to stream on Prime Video. Despite being released in 1977, even some of the biggest war movie fans out there are still unaware the film exists, but thanks to streaming, more are now discovering it.
When audiences hear the name Paul Verhoeven, many will instantly think of erotic, controversial movies like Basic Instinct or Showgirls, or perhaps brutal, satirical action movies like Starship Troopers and Robocop. However, not many have seen one of the movies that really set the director on the road to success until its availability on streaming – praise Tim Berners-Lee.
The movie in question is Soldier of Orange, Soldaat van Oranje in its native Dutch, or Survival Run as it was renamed in the U.K. Whatever name the movie plays under, it was released in 1977 as the most expensive Dutch movie ever made, but also the most watched Dutch movie of the year. The film also aired on TV in 1979, as an edited miniseries. The film focuses on students in the Netherlands during World War II, and follows several of them as they decide whether to sign up with the occupying German forces or fight against them as part of the Dutch resistance. The official synopsis reads:
“The lives of Erik Lanshof and five of his closest friends take different paths when the German army invades the Netherlands in 1940: fight and resistance, fear and resignation, collaboration and high treason.”
‘Solider of Orange’ Has a Strong Cast and Stronger Reviews
Paul Verhoeven would become known for working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, but even in 1977 he was able to enlist Rutger Hauer and Edward Fox into his strong ensemble cast. Hauer and costar Jeroen Krabbe, in particular, come in for a lot of praise from both critics and audiences, and helped Soldier of Orange become highly regarded as Verhoeven’s best film.
The movie holds a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, complimented by 87% from audiences. Described as “a masterpiece” in many reviews, the film is exceptional at “getting the audience deeply invested in its main characters,” and is a movie that redefines everything modern audiences believe about Verhoevan being nothing other than “a purveyor of sleazy indulgence and gratuitous violence.”
Anyone who is a die-hard fan of war movies will probably have seen Soldier of Orange at least once, but there will be many others who just are not aware of its existence and would be foolish not to check it out while it is available to stream on Prime Video. Standing shoulder to shoulder with some of the best modern war movies, this near-50-year-old offering from a director much better known for controversial films is one that is well worth your time.