A trifle implausible but involving thriller with one of Norma Shearer's best performances. Holding the grand lady theatricality that often mars her work in check she contains her growing concern for the situation she suddenly finds herself in to furtive glances and well controlled agitation. If only Robert Taylor had exercised the same restraint. It's understandable considering his plight that he would be overwrought but he pitches his performance too high and comes across somewhat unhinged at points. Nazimova has one of her better sound film roles and her grandness suits the part of Taylor's mother well.
This kind of picture relies a great deal on an effective villain and this film has an excellent one in Conrad Veidt. Representing the Nazi regime he's not presented as a one note monster which makes him all the more dangerous, a once fastidious man lost to ideology. Perhaps it's his skill but some of Norma's best scenes are with him. Bonita Granville also makes an impression as a thoughtlessly vicious Hitler youth.
A picture made before America entered the war but designed to raise awareness of the crisis ahead on that basis it is very effective, fortunately it is also a substantial, cogent entertainment.
This kind of picture relies a great deal on an effective villain and this film has an excellent one in Conrad Veidt. Representing the Nazi regime he's not presented as a one note monster which makes him all the more dangerous, a once fastidious man lost to ideology. Perhaps it's his skill but some of Norma's best scenes are with him. Bonita Granville also makes an impression as a thoughtlessly vicious Hitler youth.
A picture made before America entered the war but designed to raise awareness of the crisis ahead on that basis it is very effective, fortunately it is also a substantial, cogent entertainment.