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.
Mildred Gillars was born and raised in America. Dreaming of becoming famous and fulfilling her aspiration, Gillars went to Europe searching for fame after dropping out of her studies at Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1940 Berlin, Mildred Gillars landed a job as an announcer with the German State Radio, enchanting the listeners with her voice, and she became the voice of Nazi German propaganda during World War II.
Dubbed as “Axis Sally”, Gillars was arrested on March 15, 1946, indicted on September 10, 1948, and charged with ten counts of treason by the U.S. government. The eccentric but charismatic lawyer, James J. Laughlin, took the controversial case of Mildred Gillars, the most hated person in America, on a par perhaps with Adolf Hitler himself, provoking strong negative reactions.
American Traitor: The Trial of Axis Sally is a 2021 drama film directed by Michael Polish, from a screenplay by Vance Owen and Darryl Hicks, based upon the book Axis Sally Confidential, by William E. Owen. 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.
Directed by: Michael Polish
Starring: Al Pacino, Meadow Williams, Thomas Kretschmann, Swen Temmel, Mitch Pileggi, Carsten Norgaard, Lala Kent, Marcus Rafinski, Carlos Leal, Jasper Polish, Antonio Deleo
Screenplay by: Vance Owen, Darryl Hicks, Michael Polish
Production Design by: Mailara Santana
Cinematography by: Jayson Crothers
Film Editing by: Raùl Marchand Sánchez, Gavin Segall-Abrams
Costume Design by: Julia Michelle Santiago
Set Decoration by: Traci Kirshbaum
Art Direction by: Fernando Carrion
Music by: Kubilay Uner
MPAA Rating: R for sexual assault.
Distributed by: Vertical Entertainment
Release Date: May 28, 2021 (United States)
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