Watch on the Rhine (1943)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Herman Shumlin
(more)

Writers:

Lillian Hellman (play)
Dashiell Hammett (writer) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

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...

Plot Keywords:

Washington DC | Embassy | Blackmail | Freedom Fighter | Nazi

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

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)

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 Companies

• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

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

Quotes:

Fanny Farrelly: We've been shaken out of the magnolias.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

My favorite movie!

Probably my all-time favorite movie, a story of selflessness, sacrifice and dedication to a noble cause, but it's not preachy or boring. It just never gets old, despite my having seen it some 15 or more times in the last 25 years. Paul Lukas' performance brings tears to my eyes, and Bette Davis, in one of her very few truly sympathetic roles, is a delight. The kids are, as grandma says, more like "dressed-up midgets" than children, but that only makes them more fun to watch. And the mother's slow awakening to what's happening in the world and under her own roof is believable and startling. If I had a dozen thumbs, they'd all be "up" for this movie.