In a 1943 non-nominated role, Bette Davis plays Sara Farrely Muller, who as a young girl visiting Germany with her sophisticated mother Fanny (Lucile Watson) married her German soul mate Kurt Muller (Paul Lukas). Unfortunately, the time of their love was between WWI and WWII, and there was much misery in Germany. With the rise of Hitler, Kurt saw his homeland disintegrate and become very violent. As the movie opens, the Muller family is escaping to the United States via Mexico with their 3 children: Joshua, Babette, and Bodo. Visiting Sara's mother was a dream come true after 18 years abroad, but there are complications. Bette's unmarried brother David (Donald Woods) is having an affair with a childhood friend Marthe (Geraldine Fitzgerald), the Countess de Brancovis, who is married to a Nazi sympathizer, Teck, a Romanian count, who is aware of the affair. Sparks ignite the minute that Kurt meets Teck, who is suspicious of Kurt. Bette Davis took this subordinate role on the heels of "Now Voyager" because she was a very patriotic American. She was not the first choice for the role of Sara, nor was Paul Lukas the first choice to play Kurt. However, Paul was chosen because he had created the role on Broadway. He was so good in it that he won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1943 as well as the first Golden Globe for Best Actor--Drama. Interestingly, this was a Lillian Helman play, and her lover Dashiell Hammett wrote the Screenplay, which was also nominated for an Oscar. This is not Bette's best movie, but it is well worth seeing her make the most of a subordinate role. She was so popular at this time that the producers of the film still gave her top billing.Read full review
Great script for adults and children. I found the children most engaging in this movie. The young boy, Bodo, and elder brother, Joshua, played crucial family roles. The best scene was when the father, Kurt, said good-bye to his children as he left to go back to the war in Germany to rescue a patriot leader. I loved this movie and have watched it several times.
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A fabulous movie about a daughter who returns home to the US after being in the Resistance in Europe with her husband in WWII. Many amazing things are revealed during their stay with her mother, brother and friends. Brilliantly acted by Bette Davis, Paul Lukas and Lucile Watson.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Agood movie in a time when we actually had people who could act.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Great story of the Underground networks during WWII France. A True classic.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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