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Shining Through

DramaRomanceThriller

An American woman of Irish and Jewish-German parentage goes undercover in Nazi Germany.

Year

1992

Duration

2h 12m

IMDb

6.4

Hero Poster

Cast

David Seltzer

Director

Michael Douglas

Ed Leland

Melanie Griffith

Linda Voss

Cast

David Seltzer

Director

Michael Douglas

Ed Leland

Melanie Griffith

Linda Voss

Liam Neeson

Franze-Otto Dietrich

Joely Richardson

Margrete Von Eberstien

John Gielgud

Sunflower

Francis Guinan

Andrew Berringer

PW

Patrick Winczewski

Fishmonger

Anthony Walters

Dietrich's Son

Victoria Shalet

Dietrich's Daughter

Sheila Allen

Olga Leiner, Margrete's Mother

SB

Stanley Beard

Linda's Father

Sylvia Syms

Linda's Mother

Ronald Nitschke

Horst Drescher

Hansi Jochmann

Hedda Drescher

PF

Peter Flechtner

S.S. Officer at Fish Market

AH

Alexander Hauff

S.S. Officer at Fish Market

CP

Claus Plankers

S.S. Officer at Fish Market

RC

Renate Cyll

Woman in Fish Market

SI

Susan Isaacs

Writer

David Seltzer

Writer

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

Evie🍫Mar 19, 2026

Seyfel-ziyach-AlArabiMay 29, 2023

source: Shining Through

Kadi LovaNov 18, 2022

Joeboy Nov 16, 2022

Shining Through

Omah LayNov 16, 2022

When David Seltzer's "Shining Through" first came out it was a critical and commercial failure. I thought that it was at least worth seeing, if not any kind of masterpiece. I suspect that a lot of the antipathy towards the movie is because of Melanie Griffith's American-sounding German speech. Griffith plays a secretary in a law firm who gets sent into Nazi Germany to try and find secret information. Aside from the German spoken in a monotone American accent, I found it a little odd that when she first arrives in Germany she does have to speak German to everyone, but then they start speaking English. But for the most part, I did like the movie. Aside from Griffith, Michael Douglas plays her boss whose whereabouts she doesn't know half the time, and Liam Neeson plays a Nazi officer. Joely Richardson and John Gielgud also star. Above all, Melanie Griffith looked a lot better before she had her face done. Like I said, not any kind of masterpiece, but still worth seeing.

Ellen JonesNov 16, 2022

OK, so this movie is not a total turkey, but compared to the source material it isn't in the same ballpark - not even the same sport! The book 'Shining Through' is a wonderfully nuanced and thoughtfully written novel, in which the author really cares for her characters. None of this came through in the movie and some very important plot points were left out - ones which could have lifted the movie immeasurably. My advice - See the movie, or read the book. If you do both the movie will come out lacking.

ThabsieNov 16, 2022

They had to be kidding: Susan Isaacs' book about an American secretary turning spy during WWII, posing as a nanny in Berlin and moving into the home of a powerful German family, turned into a movie vehicle for "Working Girl"'s Melanie Griffith? Woebegone picture given curiously old-fashioned, melodramatic treatment, like a wartime rerun from the late show. Distinctly modern performers Griffith and Michael Douglas look terribly out of place; Melanie, who professes to be fluent in German (!), just gives us an extension of her golly-gee, "Working Girl" aesthetic, while Douglas brings absolutely nothing to an admittedly thankless role as Griffith's stolid boss. Musty, hokey, empty nonsense did zero for the careers of all involved. How it came to be made in 1992 is anyone's guess. *1/2 from ****

mary_jerriNov 16, 2022

I am a huge spy/war film fan and am especially interested in ones made since the 1970s. I could talk about the many historical errors in this but what would be the point. This is a beautiful looking spy/war film with good acting from the 2 leads. Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffiths play an American spy chief and his secretary. Liam Neeson plays a nazi general,as usual he spends most of the film with his shirt off. If I have to be critical I have to say the script is a rather poor. The plot charges along and is unrealistic but every war film is I think. Other reviewers on here say this is Hollywood rubbish but while it is an American backed production it was filmed at Pinewood in the UK and in Berlin. Some of the negative comments focus on the amateur style of American intelligence shown in the film. But in the real world the USA were learners in the intelligence sphere and learned from the British

MalakMh4216Nov 16, 2022

I love this film! I know it is widely panned by critics and movie-goers alike, but I love it. Sure, it has implausible elements in the story, but the relationship between Ed Leland (played stoically by Michael Douglas) and his lady love, Linda Voss (played seductively by Melanie Griffith) is thrilling. Joely Richardson plays a complicated character who provides some interesting plot points. Melanie, who isn't known for subtlety, gives a rich and layered performance, especially in the development of the romantic storyline. Michael Douglas is a bit over the top, playing the stolid soldier and unlikely spy to the hilt. Liam Neeson is amazingly handsome and charismatic -- despite playing for the other side as a top Nazi officer. It's a fun recreation of the 1940s romance-war-spy dramas -- exciting and definitely romantic. Romance is the focus of this drama, not the spy plot. Watch the relationships unfold and it won't disappoint. It's worth a second look by many. Give it another try!

maheer.abdulcarimoNov 16, 2022

I loved this movie. I saw it for the first time when I was 21, and I've watched it several times a year ever since. Melanie Griffith gives one of the best performances of her career, and Michael Douglas is, of course, wonderful. Although this movie is presented as a action/drama set in WWII, the romantic story is what makes this movie so powerful. Griffith and Douglas have great, believable chemistry. The set decoration and cinematography are a throwback to the old 40's movies, which is ironic because those movies are mentioned throughout the film (Griffith's character is a huge fan of war movies that were shown at that time.) If you like great romantic stories with just enough action thrown in, watch this one. You will not be disappointed.