The dark world of propaganda is nothing new. For one woman, its reach would transform her into a well-known and infamous character during WWII. “American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally” delves into the life of Mildred Gillars. The voice of Nazi propaganda programs, Gillars became a prominent figure for German misinformation, As the war ended so did her reach, ultimately leading to the personality facing charges of treason.
‘Traitor’ follows the peak of her career through a subsequent trial. Al Pacino stars as James Laughlin, the lawyer tasked with maintaining a fair hearing all the while attempting to reform public perceptions. Meadow Williams co-stars as Gillars, the defendant known to many as Axis Sally. The remaining cast features actors that many will be familiar with for their work in sci-fi or action genres. Mitch Pileggi, Thomas Kretschmann, and Lala Kent all appear in significant roles.
Director Michael Polish established himself as a filmmaker at home with realism. It’s a tone and vision he has carried over in subsequent projects, notably the Kerouac adaptation “Big Sur.” This time, the story comes directly from Vance Owen’s novel about Gillars, with Owen and Darryl Hicks writing the screenplay.
Here’s the synopsis:
“Based on the true story, “AMERICAN TRAITOR: THE TRIAL OF AXIS SALLY” follows the life of American woman Mildred Gillars (Meadow Williams) and her lawyer (Al Pacino), who struggles to redeem her reputation. Dubbed “Axis Sally” for broadcasting Nazi propaganda to American troops during World War II, Mildred’s story exposes the dark underbelly of the Third Reich’s hate-filled propaganda machine, her eventual capture in Berlin, and subsequent trial for treason against the United States after the war.”
The true story of Mildred Gillars unfolds in “American Traitor: The Trail of Axis Sally.” It is set for release in select theaters and on-demand on May 28. Get your first look at the film below.