One thing that free nations should focus on in their continuing history is to keep an open eye and ear and never become complacent. When you settle for the blind eye, you either end up with Chancellor Hitler or a president who manipulates the people to destroy freedom. It happens bit by bit, as liberal thinking on certain issues becomes the norm. This film, made at the height of America's involvement in the war, is a dark reminder, unsubtle and ugly, that is as potent in a very serious election year, as it was 75 years ago.
German born American Bonita Granville ends up under the thumb of the Nazi's by standing up to them when her role as a teacher in American schools in Germany, makes her subject to Nazi judgment and cruelty. She is torn between two childhood friends; one a rising Nazi (Tim Holt), the other an American teacher (Kent Smith) who fights to save her while fighting for freedom behind the scenes.
Important in its time to be told the way it was, this provides anger and shock as the evil methods of the Nazi's are exposed: sterilizing women, expelling students from the school for sinister motivations, and sentences Granville to 10 lashes for "treason". Veteran character actors H.B. Warner and Otto Kruger, who played similar parts both good and bad, give cool and calm performances, ironically one as a Nazi leader and the other as a priest. There's one scene where Holt goes against the Nazi's briefly that doesn't ring as true, but that is the one minor gripe. This is as filled with propaganda as they come, but the messages live on as America faces its own challenges in preventing similar leaders as Hitler from getting into office.
German born American Bonita Granville ends up under the thumb of the Nazi's by standing up to them when her role as a teacher in American schools in Germany, makes her subject to Nazi judgment and cruelty. She is torn between two childhood friends; one a rising Nazi (Tim Holt), the other an American teacher (Kent Smith) who fights to save her while fighting for freedom behind the scenes.
Important in its time to be told the way it was, this provides anger and shock as the evil methods of the Nazi's are exposed: sterilizing women, expelling students from the school for sinister motivations, and sentences Granville to 10 lashes for "treason". Veteran character actors H.B. Warner and Otto Kruger, who played similar parts both good and bad, give cool and calm performances, ironically one as a Nazi leader and the other as a priest. There's one scene where Holt goes against the Nazi's briefly that doesn't ring as true, but that is the one minor gripe. This is as filled with propaganda as they come, but the messages live on as America faces its own challenges in preventing similar leaders as Hitler from getting into office.