The Search (1948)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Richard Schweizer (screenplay)
David Wechsler (collaborator on screenplay)

Release Date:

26 March 1948 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

In the Post-War Berlin, an American private helps a lost Czech boy to find his mother.

Plot Keywords:

Auschwitz | Children | Jeep | Germany | Flashback Sequence

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Montgomery Clift	...	Ralph 'Steve' Stevenson
Aline MacMahon	...	Mrs. Murray
Jarmila Novotna	...	Mrs. Hannah Malik
Wendell Corey	...	Jerry Fisher
Ivan Jandl	...	Karel 'Jimmy' Malik
Mary Patton	...	Mrs. Fisher
Ewart G. Morrison	...	Mr. Crookes
William Rogers	...	Tom Fisher
Leopold Borkowski	...	Joel Markowsky
Claude Gambier	...	Raoul Dubois

Runtime:

Germany:105 min

Country:

Switzerland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Passed | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Praesens-Film

Movie Connections:

Featured in Montgomery Clift (1983)

Soundtrack:

'S Wonderful

Moving story...the back story is even sadder

This 1948 gem isn't a "Hollywood" movie-treatment, thankfully. It's a quasi-documentary, parts filmed in post-war, occuppied Germany.

Jarmila Novotna was a world-class opera singer born in Prague. She sang in Czechoslovakia, Austria and Germany prior to the war, and came to the United States by invitation from Arturo Toscanini and the Metropolitan Opera in 1939. She sang at the Met and San Francisco operas. In addition to being a beloved opera star, she had also appeared in a number of movies in Europe. She sang for 16 years at the MET before retiring. All of her property in Europe was confiscated by the Communists after the war, so she remained in the US and eventually retired to Vienna, where she had been greatly admired before the war.

Ivan Jandl, who portrayed Karel Malik, the little boy, was also from Czechoslovakia. He was a member of "Disman's Radio Children's Ensemble" and also acted in several radio plays where he was discovered by director Fred Zinnemann. Tragically, after the filming of the movie, Ivan returned to Czechoslovakia, which was under Communist rule. His participation in this one American movie ruined his life, as he was effectively blacklisted by the Communists, taken from University and assigned to work in the rock quarries, depriving him of the possibility to work/develop his talent. He died at the age of 50, in 1987, in complete obscurity.

I was so moved by this little boy's talent and heart, it was a joy to see. As he slowly learns and begins to use the English that the soldier patiently and lovingly teaches him, as he slowly begins to "remember" about his mother, as he begins to put the pieces together, his talent becomes even more apparent. He's totally committed to this part and gives a truly amazing performance. I was totally love- and awe-struck.

Seeing the city of Berlin in complete ruins, and watching the little refugee children, terrified that they are going to be gassed, trying to break out of the wagons carrying them to Allied Refugee Children centers, impressed upon me anew the horror and chaos of war and its bitter aftermath. Knowing the fate of this little actor, swallowed up by the Communist machine breaks my heart. The little character is rescued. The little actor never was. So few lived happily ever after.