This Land Is Mine (1943)

71% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
80% of users liked it
(95 ratings)

Written by Dudley Nichols and directed by French expatriate director Jean Renoir, This Land is Mine is one of those "inspirational" wartime dramas that just don't hold up too well when seen today. The scene is an unnamed European country, recently overrun by the Nazis (this takes place during a… More Written by Dudley Nichols and directed by French expatriate director Jean Renoir, This Land is Mine is one of those "inspirational" wartime dramas that just don't hold up too well when seen today. The scene is an unnamed European country, recently overrun by the Nazis (this takes place during a "silent" opening sequence that's the best thing in the film). Charles Laughton plays Albert Lory, a mama's-boy schoolmaster who is the object of his students' ridicule. A craven coward, Lory is held responsible when resistance fighter Paul Martin (Kent Smith), the brother of beauteous teacher Louise Martin (Maureen O'Hara), is executed by the Nazis, though in fact it was Lory's panic-stricken mother (Una O'Connor) who betrayed Paul by informing on him to his friend and collaborator George Lambert (George Sanders). ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Jean Renoir
Written By: Dudley Nichols
Genres: Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1943 Wide
On DVD: Jul 28, 1990

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Jean Renoir's 1943 film has its passionate defenders; the unfortunate thing, though, is that it needs them.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
It should have been stronger drama than it is. But for the points it does make and its concept of man as a continuing vessel for freedom's fire, it is certainly well worth seeing. It comes close, even if doesn't quite hit the mark.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Fails to be as inspirational when viewed today as it probably was during its day.
Derek Smith, Cinematic Reflections
It moves along like a well-oiled machine until the devestating final act ties all of the smaller stories together, making it's point without being overbearing or obvious.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
There is no black and white, no good or evil. There is only grey, and, in that grey area, an understanding of the frailty of human nature.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
One of his quietest and least startling.
, Film4
The best film of Renoir's wartime American exile is a moving tirade against Nazism that packs quite an emotional punch.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Walter M

In "This Land Is Mine," lonely schoolteacher Albert(Charles Laughton, who is superb) finds there is something more frightening than his domineering mother(Una O'Connor) when the Nazis occupy his village. As usual, his students do not respect him, even though his fellow… More
In "This Land Is Mine," lonely schoolteacher Albert(Charles Laughton, who is superb) finds there is something more frightening than his domineering mother(Una O'Connor) when the Nazis occupy his village. As usual, his students do not respect him, even though his fellow schoolteacher Louise(Maureen O'Hara), who he has a crush on, is kind to him but then she is engaged to George(George Sanders), the manager of the railyards where her brother Paul(Kent Smith) works. Regardless, Albert and Louise follow orders and tear out pages in the history books that do not correspond with the Nazis' narrow view of history. Major von Keller(Walter Slezak) just wants everything to be business as usual but then there is a suspicious accident at the railyards... On the surface, there are certain similarities between "This Land Is Mine" and Jean Renoir's previous "Grand Illusion" about camaraderie between supposed enemies. In the six years between the films, the world had changed radically(not to mention the films are about different wars) and while the Nazis in "This Land Is Mine" might at first seem polite and urbane(von Keller certainly knows his Latin), the villagers should never view them as friends, as food shortages and censorship are only the beginning, much worse being hinted at. What Renoir has on his mind is not a recruitment film, but more a call to arms of sorts against tyranny of all shapes and sizes that displays more than one form of courage.(Ostensibly, the movie is set in France but it could be anywhere.) All of which is handled in a nuanced style and is well-filmed, especially its opening shot and two action sequences. While the movie might follow a familiar trajectory with a climactic speech, it is a perfectly eloquent speech.

Cast

            Charles Laughton as Arthur Lory

            Maureen O'Hara as Louise Martin

            George Sanders as George Lambert

            Walter Slezak as Maj. Erich von Keller

            Kent Smith as Paul Martin

            Una O'Connor as Mrs. Emma Lory

            Philip Merivale as Prof. Sorel

            Thurston Hall as Mayor Henry Manville

            George Coulouris as Prosecuting Attorney

            Nancy Gates as Julie Grant

            Ivan Simpson as Judge

            John Donat as Edmund Lorraine

            Frank Alten as Lt. Schwartz

            Leo Bulgakov as Little Man

            Wheaton Chambers as Mr. Lorraine

            Cecil Weston as Mrs. Lorraine

            John Banner
            
            Joan Barclay as Young Woman

            Tommy Bond as Julian

            Sven Hugo Borg
            
            George Carleton as Jury Foreman

            Gordon B. Clark as Lieutenant

            John Dilson as Mayor's Secretary

            Ludwig Donath as German Captain

            Margaret Fealy as Old Woman

            Otto Hoffman as Printer

            Russell Hoyt
            
            George MacQuarrie as Chief of Police

            Edward McNamara as Policeman

            John Rice
            
            Henry Roquemore as Butcher

            Ferdinand Schumann-Heink as Karl

            Hans Schumm
            
            Lester Sharpe
            
            George Sorel as German Sergeant

            Bob Stevenson
            
            Mary Stuart as Photo Double

            Hans Von Morhart as Soldier Who Gets Slapped

            William Yetter Jr. as Otto

            Lloyd Ingraham as Paper Man in Street

            Jack Shea as Burly Cop

            Philip Ahlm as German Lieutenant

            Albert D'Arno
            
            Casey Johnson as Boy

            Hans Moebus as German Chauffeur

            Linda Ann Bieber as Emily

            Oscar Lorraine as Clerk

            Hal Malone as Bit in Courtroom

            Rudolph Myzet
            
            Ida Shoemaker as Woman in Street

            Gus Taillon as Newsman

            Walter Thiele as German Soldier

            Nicholas Vehr
            
            Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum as German Captain

            Ivan F. Simpson
            
See full cast