Hitler's Children (1942)
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75% want to see it
(8 ratings)
This modestly produced film version of Gregor Ziemmer's book Education for Death surprised everyone at RKO--and in the film industry--by becoming one the biggest hits of 1943. The "children" invoked in the title are borne on behalf of Adolf Hitler; according to the film, it is standard… More This modestly produced film version of Gregor Ziemmer's book Education for Death surprised everyone at RKO--and in the film industry--by becoming one the biggest hits of 1943. The "children" invoked in the title are borne on behalf of Adolf Hitler; according to the film, it is standard operating procedure in Nazi Germany for young girls to willingly submit to being impregnated by Aryan men (with or without the benefit of clergy) in order to sustain the "Master Race." Those who refuse are ticketed for sterilization, or worse. One of the holdouts is Bonita Granville, a German girl raised and educated in America whose taste of democracy has made her utterly resistant to Nazism. In the film's key scene, the near-naked Bonita is publicly flogged for her defiance, whereupon Bonita's lover, "good Nazi" Tim Holt, suddenly has an awakening of conscience and stops the whipping. This act of courage results in the executions of both Holt and Granville, but they willingly go to their deaths rather than accede to Hitler's demands. It is true enough that many people flocked to see Hitler's Children because of the sensational, censor-provoking aspects of the film, but equal numbers of filmgoers and critics also recognized the above-average artistic contributions of director Edward Dmytryk and scriptwriter Emmet Lavery (both of whom received substantial cash bonuses for their work on this film). Hitler's Children was the second biggest moneymaker of RKO's 1943-44 season, only slightly behind the Cary Grant vehicle Mr. Lucky. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Edward Dmytryk
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Classics
Unrated,
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This anti-fascist Hollywood account of German youth indoctrination, directed by Edward Dmytryk (one of the Hollywood Ten) in 1943, was popular due to the timeliness of its release.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The melodramatics seemed artificial.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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Tim Holt
as Karl Bruner
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Bonita Granville
as Anna Muller
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Kent Smith
as Prof. Nichols (Narrator)
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Otto Kruger
as Col. Henkel
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H.B. Warner
as The bishop
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Lloyd Corrigan
as Franz Erhart
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Erford Gage
as Dr. Schmidt
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Egon Brecher
as Mr. Muller
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Hans Conried
as Dr. Graf
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Rita Corday
as Young Matron
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Douglas Evans
as Radio Announcer
- Van Eyck
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William Forrest
as American Vice Consul
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Nancy Gates
as Brenda
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Peter Michael Goetz
as Arresting Sergeant
- Ariel Heath
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Elsa Janssen
as Mrs. Muller
- Orley Lindgren
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Anne Loos
as N.S.V. Worker
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Harry McKim
as Bit Boy
- John Merton
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Gavin Muir
as Nazi Major
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Edward Van Sloan
as Chief Trial Judge
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Roland Varno
as Lieutenant S.A.
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Crane Whitley
as Whipping Sergeant
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Jimmy Zaner
as Irwin
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Richard Martin
as Gestapo Man
- Irving G. Reis
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Bruce Cameron
as Storm Trooper
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Bessie Wade
as Mother
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Carla Boehm
as Magda
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Max Lucke
as Plane Dispatcher
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Billy Burrud
as Murph
