It's early in WWII with Germany's rapid conquest of western Europe. German engineer Kurt Muller (Paul Lukas) and his American wife Sara (Bette Davis) cross the border from Mexico into the US with their three children. They travel to Washington to stay with her brother David Farrelly (Donald Woods) and their mother Fanny (Lucile Watson). The anti-fascist Kurt had fought for the Republicans in Spain and is a friend of the underground railroad. There is opportunistic houseguest, Romanian Count Teck de Brancovis (George Coulouris), who plays with the Nazis and running out of money.
It probably worked well as a wartime propaganda. It paints a compelling story of good versus evil. Lukas is an older gentleman actor. Bette Davis is restrained as the wife and mother although she is the most dramatic at various times bordering on overacting. There is plenty of sleaze coming off of Coulouris. He has probably the most interesting performance as the villain which happens a lot. Overall, it's fine especially for its purpose.
It probably worked well as a wartime propaganda. It paints a compelling story of good versus evil. Lukas is an older gentleman actor. Bette Davis is restrained as the wife and mother although she is the most dramatic at various times bordering on overacting. There is plenty of sleaze coming off of Coulouris. He has probably the most interesting performance as the villain which happens a lot. Overall, it's fine especially for its purpose.