Try and find a film made in 1943 that isn't about WWII!
I have always wanted to watch this movie if only for the title alone. Bonita Granville plays Anna, a young lass at the American school in Berlin. It is 1933, not a good year to be a German born Yank residing in the Deutschland (not a good year for anyone to be there). The film opens with our freedom loving friends fighting a bunch of Nazi Youth. During the fracas Tim Holt, a strapping example of Germany's future meets the spunky Bonita. He quickly succumbs to her cheeky charms and after a bit of resistance Bonita returns his affection.
Time passes and Holt rises in the Nazi machine while Bonita remains in Germany (why didn't she leave? Because then we would have no movie) Eventually Bonita ends up in a labor camp unwilling to renounce her loyalty to the USA and suffers fierce reprisals for her stubbornness. Holt ultimately allows his love for her to overcome his Nazi leanings. How does this turn out? Watch and find out.
This film made a lot of money for RKO in 1943 but today it seems like an obvious piece of wartime propaganda, melodramatic and shrill but for a few interesting moments. A close-up of Holt and Granville embracing in shadow was beautiful and a fine example of German Expressionism. There were scenes of Anna fleeing her enemies in the woods. These were lovely and evoked again those fabulous Universal horror films of the thirties. Nice film noir touches. Granville's flogging by the Nazi's was appropriately brutal. Otto Kruger and Hans Conried are always a welcome addition to any movie. H.B. Warner plays a very talkative Catholic priest.
Directed by Jules Dassin, it is interesting to see for that reason alone.
Time passes and Holt rises in the Nazi machine while Bonita remains in Germany (why didn't she leave? Because then we would have no movie) Eventually Bonita ends up in a labor camp unwilling to renounce her loyalty to the USA and suffers fierce reprisals for her stubbornness. Holt ultimately allows his love for her to overcome his Nazi leanings. How does this turn out? Watch and find out.
This film made a lot of money for RKO in 1943 but today it seems like an obvious piece of wartime propaganda, melodramatic and shrill but for a few interesting moments. A close-up of Holt and Granville embracing in shadow was beautiful and a fine example of German Expressionism. There were scenes of Anna fleeing her enemies in the woods. These were lovely and evoked again those fabulous Universal horror films of the thirties. Nice film noir touches. Granville's flogging by the Nazi's was appropriately brutal. Otto Kruger and Hans Conried are always a welcome addition to any movie. H.B. Warner plays a very talkative Catholic priest.
Directed by Jules Dassin, it is interesting to see for that reason alone.
- AlsExGal
- Jun 27, 2020