They Dare Not Love

Wartime drama from Columbia Pictures and director James Whale has nobleman Prince Kurt von Rotenberg (George Brent) fleeing Austria as the Germans annex the nation. Kurt makes his way to America and a life of playboy luxury, but there are those back in his home country who view him as a symbol of freedom and the old ways. As such, Nazi-sympathizer Baron von Helsing (Paul Lukas) is determined to see Kurt imprisoned.

Similar to the previous movie I reviewed, this is also a scathing indictment of Nazi Germany, shot and released before the US entered the war. It's an inferior film, though, with a thoroughly Hollywood romanticism and a fairly uneventful script. Brent is about as Austrian as I am, but Lukas isn't bad as the suave villain of the piece, and Martha Scott is appealing as Brent's love interest and conscience. Peter Cushing, in the last of the handful of roles in Hollywood films that he made prior to the war, appears very briefly. He returned to the UK after this and joined the army for the duration. This proved to be James Whale's final feature directing credit, and he was replaced by Charles Vidor and Victor Fleming before filming was completed. Whether due to Whale's deteriorating behavior, or because of studio politics, this was an ignominious end to one of the 1930's more interesting film talents.

Caught at Cinecon 39 in Hollywood, this is a first-rate effort from director James Whale about an Austrian Prince exiled from his homeland during World War II who then finally decides to take a stand against the Nazis. Brent is solid in the lead; Paul Lukas is a great villain. Good to see Peter Cushing in a tiny but commanding role and Lloyd Bridges playing a German thug (which he'd done before). Lots of fun.