It's 1933 southern Germany. Professor Roth (Frank Morgan) is beloved by his students. Hitler comes to power and most of his students are overjoyed. Student Martin Breitner (James Stewart) is a pacifist and much more cautious. His friends keep trying to recruit him but he resists. The professor's daughter Freya Roth (Margaret Sullavan) cancels her engagement to Fritz who has become a Nazi fanatic. Family friend Werner comes to the Breitners and seeks safe harbor from arrest. Martin guides him to Austria through a mountain pass. Then Professor Roth is himself arrested.
This is an early anti-Nazi film and one of the best at its time. It does pull back a couple of punches but it lands a lot of great hits. It doesn't state right out that the Roth are Jewish or not. The most compelling is when the Nazis confront Professor Roth in his class. It has a similar echo for today when scientific facts are once again challenge without reason. It is emotional and compelling historically. It was very relevant in its day and still relevant today.
This is an early anti-Nazi film and one of the best at its time. It does pull back a couple of punches but it lands a lot of great hits. It doesn't state right out that the Roth are Jewish or not. The most compelling is when the Nazis confront Professor Roth in his class. It has a similar echo for today when scientific facts are once again challenge without reason. It is emotional and compelling historically. It was very relevant in its day and still relevant today.