With the US entry into WWII, Hollywood almost immediately began turning out movies focusing on said war. The most famous release from 1942 was "Casablanca", but one that hits closer to home is "The Pied Piper". The protagonist is a curmudgeonly Englishman (Monty Woolley) who has to accompany some children in their escape from France when the Nazis invade.
Probably the most interesting character in the movie is the Nazi official played by Otto Preminger. At first the viewer assumes that he's going to be nothing but cruel, but then he gives the protagonist the assignment of taking his half-Jewish niece to the United States so that no harm will come to her. A side note is that Preminger himself was a Jew, but he always shaved his head so he had the right kind of look to play a Nazi.
One thing that caught my attention in the movie is the mention of the Dunkirk evacuation. That recently became a major topic thanks to the release of Christopher Nolan's movie about it. To think that it took this long for a movie to draw people's attention to that important event in WWII.
Anyway, I recommend this movie. It shows how the protagonist is forced to evolve from a grouchy old man to someone who does the right thing even at the risk to his own life. Also starring are Anne Baxter (later famous for "The Ten Commandments") and Roddy McDowall (famous for an assortment of movies over the years). I've been making an effort recently to see a lot of the older movies that received Academy Award nominations, including this one. It's not the greatest movie ever made, but worth seeing.
Probably the most interesting character in the movie is the Nazi official played by Otto Preminger. At first the viewer assumes that he's going to be nothing but cruel, but then he gives the protagonist the assignment of taking his half-Jewish niece to the United States so that no harm will come to her. A side note is that Preminger himself was a Jew, but he always shaved his head so he had the right kind of look to play a Nazi.
One thing that caught my attention in the movie is the mention of the Dunkirk evacuation. That recently became a major topic thanks to the release of Christopher Nolan's movie about it. To think that it took this long for a movie to draw people's attention to that important event in WWII.
Anyway, I recommend this movie. It shows how the protagonist is forced to evolve from a grouchy old man to someone who does the right thing even at the risk to his own life. Also starring are Anne Baxter (later famous for "The Ten Commandments") and Roddy McDowall (famous for an assortment of movies over the years). I've been making an effort recently to see a lot of the older movies that received Academy Award nominations, including this one. It's not the greatest movie ever made, but worth seeing.