Watch on the Rhine (1943)
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80% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(499 ratings)
An expansion of, and improvement upon, Lillian Hellman's stage play of the same name, Watch on the Rhine stars Paul Lukas, recreating his Broadway role of tireless anti-fascist crusader Kurt Muller. As the clouds of war gather in Europe in the late 1930s, Muller arrives in Washington DC, accompanied… More An expansion of, and improvement upon, Lillian Hellman's stage play of the same name, Watch on the Rhine stars Paul Lukas, recreating his Broadway role of tireless anti-fascist crusader Kurt Muller. As the clouds of war gather in Europe in the late 1930s, Muller arrives in Washington DC, accompanied by his American wife Sara (top-billed Bette Davis) and their children Joshua (Donald Buka), Bodo (Eric Roberts) and Babette (Janis Wilson). The Mullers stay at the home of Sarah's wealthy mother Fanny Fannelly (Lucille Watson), who lives in her own world of society get-togethers and can't be bothered with politics. Also staying with Fanny is Rumanian aristocrat Teck de Branovis (George Coulouris) and his American wife Marthe (Geraldine Fitzgerald). To protect his family, Muller keeps his "underground" activities a secret from Fanny and her guests, but de Branovis is suspicious of the mild-mannered visitor. It turns out that de Branovis is actually a Nazi sympathizer, willing to betray Muller for a price. Using blackmail as one of his weapons, de Branovis threatens to destroy all that Muller has been fighting for. To prevent this, Muller kills de Branovis in cold blood. Now technically a murderer, Muller bids his family a reluctant goodbye, heading back to Europe to continue his vital work. If ever there was a justifiable homicide in a motion picture, it was the killing of the odious de Branovis in Watch on the Rhine. Still, the Hollywood production code dictated that a murderer must always pay for his crimes, thus a coda is added, alluding to Muller's death-providing a golden opportunity for a nifty smiling-through-the-tears curtain speech by Bette Davis. Scripted by Lillian Hellman's lover Dashiel Hammett, Watch on the Rhine earned several Academy Award nominations, as well as a "best actor" Oscar for Paul Lukas. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Rating, Runtime
- Unrated, 1 hr. 54 min.
- Directed By
- Herman Shumlin
- Written By
- Dashiell Hammett
- Genres
- Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
- In Theaters
- Aug 27, 1943 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 1, 2008
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Watch on the Rhine is a distinguished picture. It is even better than its powerful original stage version.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
A fine, sincere, outspoken film.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Yawn.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...as important today as its was in 1943. (Bette Davis Collection, Volume 3)
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Starring Bette Davis, Lillian Hellman's anti-Nazi play was made into simplistic film, full of contrivances and propagandistic speeches, meant to justify U.S. involvement in WWII.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Cast
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Bette Davisas Sara Muller -
Paul Lukasas Kurt Muller -
Donald Woodsas David Farrelly
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Geraldine Fitzgeraldas Marthe de Brancovis -
George Coulourisas Teck Debrancovis -
Lucile Watsonas Fanny Farrelly
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