IMDb > Watch on the Rhine (1943)

Watch on the Rhine (1943) More at IMDbPro »

Overview

User Rating:
7.4/10   1,176 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Lillian Hellman (play)
Dashiell Hammett (writer) ...
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Watch on the Rhine on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
27 August 1943 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama more
Tagline:
On her lonesome lips a smile.
Plot:
Sara and Kurt Muller and their three children are returning to her mother's home in Washington DC after 18 years in Europe... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Fighting fascism more (28 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification)

Bette Davis ... Sara Muller
Paul Lukas ... Kurt Muller

Geraldine Fitzgerald ... Marthe de Brancovis
Lucile Watson ... Fanny Farrelly
Beulah Bondi ... Anise
George Coulouris ... Teck de Brancovis
Donald Woods ... David Farrelly
Henry Daniell ... Phili Von Ramme
Eric Roberts ... Bodo
Donald Buka ... Joshua
Anthony Caruso ... Italian Man
Helmut Dantine ... Young Man
Clyde Fillmore ... Sam Chandler
Erwin Kalser ... Dr. Klauber
Kurt Katch ... Herr Blecher
Clarence Muse ... Horace
Frank L. Wilson ... Joseph (as Frank Wilson)
Janis Wilson ... Babette
Mary Young ... Mrs. Mellie Sewell
Rudolph Anders ... Oberdorff (as Robert O. Davis)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Fischer ... German ambassador (as Robert C. Fischer)
Leah Baird ... Miss Drake (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard ... Trainman (uncredited)
Glen Cavender ... German Embassy Servant (uncredited)
Herma Cordova ... Woman (uncredited)
Elvira Curci ... Italian woman (uncredited)
Jean De Briac ... Mr. Chabeuf (uncredited)
Joseph DeVillard ... Spanish General (uncredited)
Gretl Dupont ... Woman (uncredited)
Michele Fehr ... Baby (uncredited)
Bess Flowers ... Embassy Party Guest (uncredited)
Creighton Hale ... Chauffeur (uncredited)
Alan Hale Jr. ... Boy (uncredited)
Howard C. Hickman ... Cyrus Penfield (uncredited)
Violett McDowell ... Belle (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer ... German Embassy Ball Guest (uncredited)
Jack Mower ... Trainman (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell ... American Diplomat (uncredited)
Garry Owen ... Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Frank Reicher ... Admiral (uncredited)
Walter O. Stahl ... German Embassy Butler (uncredited)
Hans Tanzler ... German Diplomat (uncredited)
Hans von Morhart ... German (uncredited)
William Washington ... Doc (uncredited)
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Directed by
Herman Shumlin 
Hal Mohr (uncredited)
 
Writing credits
Lillian Hellman (play)

Dashiell Hammett  writer and
Lillian Hellman  additional scenes and dialogue

Produced by
Hal B. Wallis .... producer
 
Original Music by
Max Steiner 
 
Cinematography by
Merritt B. Gerstad  (as Merritt Gerstad)
Hal Mohr 
 
Film Editing by
Rudi Fehr 
 
Art Direction by
Carl Jules Weyl 
 
Set Decoration by
Julia Heron 
 
Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly 
 
Makeup Department
Perc Westmore .... makeup artist
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Maybery .... assistant director (as Richard Mayberry)
 
Sound Department
Dolph Thomas .... sound
 
Special Effects by
Edwin B. DuPar .... special effects
John Holden .... special effects director
 
Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein .... musical director
Hugo Friedhofer .... orchestral arrangements
 
Other crew
Edward A. Blatt .... dialogue director (as Edward Blatt)
Peter Pohlenz .... technical advisor
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
114 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English | German
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (RCA Sound System)
Certification:
Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved
Filming Locations:
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Quotes:
Unknown: The North is fine country.
Unknown: We were in hiding there once.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
18 out of 24 people found the following comment useful.
Fighting fascism, 3 May 2005
8/10
Author: jotix100 from New York

Lillian Hellman, one of America's most famous women playwrights, was a woman with a mission. Her leftist views were not well regarded at the time in the country. In her memoir, she recounts her trip to the then, Soviet Union, as she was intrigued with the so called successes achieved by that system. "Watch on the Rhine" must have come as a result of those years. The left wing in America, as all over the world had an issue with the rise of fascism, not only in Europe, but in Japan as well.

"Watch on the Rhine" was a play produced on Broadway eight months before the Pearl Harbor attack by the Japanese. In it Ms. Hellman was heralding America's entrance in World War II. The adaptation is credited to Ms. Hellman and Dashiell Hammett, her long time companion. As directed for the screen by Herman Shumlin, the film was well received when it premiered in 1943.

We are introduced to the Muller family, when the film opens. They are crossing the border to the United States from Mexico. They are to continue toward Mrs. Muller's home in Washington, D.C., where her mother, Fanny Farrelly, is a minor celebrity hostess. The Mullers, we realize are fleeing Europe because of the persecution there against the opponents of the advancing totalitarian regime in Germany. In fact, we thought, in a way, the Mullers could have been better justified if they were Jewish, fleeing from a sure extermination.

We find out that Mr. Muller has had a terrible time in his native land, as well as in other places because his outspokenness in denouncing Fascim. Little does he know that he is coming to his mother-in-law's house that is housing one of the worst exponents of that philosophy.

The film offers excellent acting all around. It is a curiosity piece because of Bette Davis' supporting role. Paul Lukas, repeating his Broadway role, is quite convincing as Kurt Muller, the upright man that wants to make a better world for himself and his family. Mr. Lukas does a great job portraying Kurt Muller, repeating the role that made him a stage luminary on Broadway.

The other best performance is by Lucile Watson, who plays Fanny Farrelly, the matriarch of this family. Geraldine Fitzgerald is seen as Marthe de Brancovis, a guest of the Farrellys, married to the contemptible Teck de Brancovis, a Nazi sympathizer, played by George Coulouris. Beulah Bondi, Donald Woods, and the rest of the supporting cast give good performances guided by Mr. Shumlin.

The film should serve as a reminder about the evils of totalitarian rule, no matter where.

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