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The Key

posted 18 years ago by berryman2
12 replies | jump to latest

Holden's character is a US citizen serving in a foreign military service, in violation of US law and at the risk of loss of citizenship. In the film there is considerable play about Ross being an American but the critical review commentary pretty well glosses over this detail. Wilder and the author of the story were making an important point about the nationality of the main character. (There were over 200 US citizens who joined the Royal Air Force and fought in the Battle of Britain, the author of "High Flight" among them; an unknown but probably small number who served in the British Army, including Kermit Roosevelt; and 22 men who joined the Royal Navy and fought at sea and in the Fleet Air Arm.)

There is an intrinsic fascination about these men and what they volunteered to do, and why. "The Key" is the only fictional naval interpretation of of this little-known chapter in the history of WWII that I know of. Are there other dramatic examples, does anyone know? I would be grateful for information. EDB, Virginia Beach 8/28

[–] bazv 18 years ago

Holdens character was a bit of 'Hollywoodisation',the original character in the book 'stella' was Dutch and the original Stella was english.
The way Holden was introduced into the film was a bit unlikely but the british films had to have an American star to get the budget I guess

[–] ib011f9545i 17 years ago

It was no doubt technically illegal for a US citizen to join a foreign army but as a Brit I am glad some Americans did join the British forces.
Of course FDR was doing his best to educate American political and public opinion about the choice between supporting Britain and being neutral and allowing the Nazis and Japan to take over the world.

Someone could make a great film about how Britain's propaganda and intelligence organisations helped FRD in his task.

Several German spies had sad traffic accidents in New York prior to December 1941,preventing them from communicating shipping movements to German Navy.

I read that someone was making a film about an American fighting in the Battle Of Britain,was Tom Cruise meant to star in it?.

Assuming that is is still illegal for Americans to join a foreign army where does this leave American Jews who join the Israeli army?

To get back to the film,I love Carol Reed's work and love war films but have somehow never seen this film.

[–] jd-116 11 years ago

"It was no doubt technically illegal for a US citizen to join a foreign army but as a Brit I am glad some Americans did join the British forces."

I believe the same was true of The Irish Republic, but nevertheless many Irish nationals fought in the British armed forces during WW2. Their doing this was not just illegal, it gave rise to criminal sanctions on their return home after the war, including the loss of jobs and pensions.

More here; http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/ireland-pardons-wartime-deserter-heroes/

[–] denmoab 17 years ago

I am also curious about this law. I once knew a man (now passed) who claimed to have been in the French Foreign Legion. No mention of loss of us citizenship came up. Are other countries also stingy with their citizens? When I was in the US Navy I knew a jamaican, many philipinos and sailors from various latin american countries. Some planned to return to their contries with some savings. Were they risking citizenship by serving the US?

[–] cowgoesmoo 17 years ago

When I was in the US Navy I knew a jamaican, many philipinos and sailors from various latin american countries. Some planned to return to their contries with some savings.

My experience has been that foreign nationals joined the US military because they wanted US citizenship. Although I never thought to ask if they risked (or cared about) losing the citizenship from their country of origin, I never got the sense that retaining it was all that important.

[–] ib011f9545i 16 years ago

There was a BBC radio interview at the time of the liberation of Iraq with a British man who had joined the American army while living in New York.
He needed a job and felt that joining the US army would get him a green card
He was in Iraq with his unit.
It seems that the American forces will take non citizens who are not criminals or illegal migrants,they have to sign up to be treated as Americans in relation to laws on treason and so on.

In Britain 1/5 of our army are not British born,any commomwealth citizen,or Irish can easily sign up,we have lots of Canadians,Australians,South Africans and hundreds from Fiji

[–] greenheart814 14 years ago

This is an enlightening thread and my thanks to Berryman2 and all other posters.

[–] Patagualian 12 years ago

I agree with you....& thanks to all. A very grey area indeed.
Seems a little narrow minded of the USA to threaten its people with Loss of Citizenship whilst accepting "aliens" to serve in their forces......Surely if one feels strongly about the righteousness of another countries cause, then indeed, why castigate them for taking such a course of action?
After all, many people fought in the Spanish Civil war, a prelude of the WWII horror to come, which may have been prevented had the International Brigade ended up on the "winning side".
I'm sure many US citizens fought for the I.B.....were they subsequently denounced for having been proved right, that their endeavours were indeed honourable & totally justified? (Albeit with hindsight.)

(And please, as regards a new film in this genre.....No Tom Cruise in the Battle of Britain. Pleeeeese!)

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thbryn 10 years ago

in the Canadian army, just that he is an American

KIND of thing happens to Holden more than any other actor. He's usually somewhere under someone else's watch (like River Kwai).

Kisskiss, Bangbang

[–] debl51 9 years ago

Would "dual citizenship" apply to the issue? Maybe that would explain a lot.

[–] geoffzman04 10 years ago

During WW2 many american men were rejected by the military for being too old, etc...and found a way to enlist in Canada and other Allied countries to serve in the war effort. The government/military had it's hand full rather than dealing with relative minor offense.