Even though the neutral United States was standing by England and its allies during the opening months of World War Two, Hollywood was still reaping financially by showing its movies in the lucrative German market. A few major studios were beginning to reassess whether it was worth the money after Germany invaded Poland, sparking the major war. MGM finally came to the realization it wasn't by producing its first anti-Nazi film, June 1940 "The Mortal Storm." Adolf Hitler and his subordinates were so appalled by the movie's contents their government not only prohibited the film from playing in German theaters but it enacted a complete ban on all MGM motion pictures. Joseph Goebbels, the minister of propaganda, shuttered Loew's Berlin office, MGM's parent company, causing a crimp in the studio's bottom line.
The war in Europe was less than a year old, and the United States wouldn't enter the conflict for another 18 months, but slowly the German public who flocked to see Hollywood movies were deprived of them. Film reviewer Clayton White wrote of "The Mortal Storm," "It takes a clear, unwavering stance against Nazism, and was one of few Hollywood films at the time that did. The most amazing aspect is that not only does it take a stand, but it clearly shows the ignorance and naivety of Nazi supporters." "The Mortal Storm" was adapted from the 1937 novel of the same name by British author Phyllis Bottome, a teacher-turned-writer who lived in Germany in the 1930s. Her book was one of the earliest anti-fascist fictional stories on what was happening in the Nazi-led country. Bottome managed an Austrian school during the mid-1920s where future writer Ian Fleming attended. Some claim Fleming was inspired to base his James Bond character from Bottome's spy novel 'The Lifeline.' The MGM film "The Mortal Storm" takes place in southern Germany in 1933 when Hitler was named chancellor. The film follows the Roth family, non-Aryans whose patriarch, Viktor (Frank Morgan), finds himself celebrating his 60th birthday with his daughter Freya (Margaret Sullavan), his two step-sons, Otto (Robert Stack) and Erich (William Orr), Freya's fiancee Fritz Marberg (Robert Young) and family friend Martin Breitner (James Stewart). Once they hear Hitler has become head of Germany, Otto, Erich and Fritz are enthusiastic about the Nazis' ideologue. Eventually Professor Roth, who disapproves of the Fuhrer, is removed from his college position and sent to a concentration camp while Martin and Freya secretly refuse to join the party.
Director Frank Borzage's work was hailed by film critic Arsaib Gilbert, saying "There may not be a shot in Borzage's oeuvre as haunting as the one here of Morgan's character emerging from the dark recesses of a prison. It is the last time we see him in the film." "The Mortal Storm" also marked the final of four movies long-time friends Stewart and Sullavan were together. Although the actress displayed periods of erratic behavior on and off the set, Stewart loved working with her. "She had you just a little bit off guard," Stewart said later. "She could do moments that would hit you, maybe a look or a line or two, but they would hit like flashes or earthquakes."
"The Mortal Storm" was only the second credited role for Robert Stack, 21. Moving with his family to Europe from Los Angeles as a baby, Charles Langford Modini Stack did not learn English until he was seven after returning to the states. He later excelled in polo and skeet shooting, winning national championships. While taking drama courses at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, Stack visited Universal Studios where he was spotted by a producer, who gave him a screen test. Studio executives loved what they saw from the college student and signed him to a contract, with his film debut in 1939's 'First Love.' He became famous in the movie for kissing young starlet Deanna Durbin, her first on-screen smooch.
Variety noted that "The Mortal Storm" wasn't "the first of the anti-Nazi pictures, but it is the most effective film exposé to date of the totalitarian idea, a slugging indictment of the political and social theories advanced by Hitler." And The New Yorker John Mosher predicted "The cruel story is told without any of the highlights of horror. We feel that what lies behind is worse than what we are shown." The film is listed in the '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" reference book.
The war in Europe was less than a year old, and the United States wouldn't enter the conflict for another 18 months, but slowly the German public who flocked to see Hollywood movies were deprived of them. Film reviewer Clayton White wrote of "The Mortal Storm," "It takes a clear, unwavering stance against Nazism, and was one of few Hollywood films at the time that did. The most amazing aspect is that not only does it take a stand, but it clearly shows the ignorance and naivety of Nazi supporters." "The Mortal Storm" was adapted from the 1937 novel of the same name by British author Phyllis Bottome, a teacher-turned-writer who lived in Germany in the 1930s. Her book was one of the earliest anti-fascist fictional stories on what was happening in the Nazi-led country. Bottome managed an Austrian school during the mid-1920s where future writer Ian Fleming attended. Some claim Fleming was inspired to base his James Bond character from Bottome's spy novel 'The Lifeline.' The MGM film "The Mortal Storm" takes place in southern Germany in 1933 when Hitler was named chancellor. The film follows the Roth family, non-Aryans whose patriarch, Viktor (Frank Morgan), finds himself celebrating his 60th birthday with his daughter Freya (Margaret Sullavan), his two step-sons, Otto (Robert Stack) and Erich (William Orr), Freya's fiancee Fritz Marberg (Robert Young) and family friend Martin Breitner (James Stewart). Once they hear Hitler has become head of Germany, Otto, Erich and Fritz are enthusiastic about the Nazis' ideologue. Eventually Professor Roth, who disapproves of the Fuhrer, is removed from his college position and sent to a concentration camp while Martin and Freya secretly refuse to join the party.
Director Frank Borzage's work was hailed by film critic Arsaib Gilbert, saying "There may not be a shot in Borzage's oeuvre as haunting as the one here of Morgan's character emerging from the dark recesses of a prison. It is the last time we see him in the film." "The Mortal Storm" also marked the final of four movies long-time friends Stewart and Sullavan were together. Although the actress displayed periods of erratic behavior on and off the set, Stewart loved working with her. "She had you just a little bit off guard," Stewart said later. "She could do moments that would hit you, maybe a look or a line or two, but they would hit like flashes or earthquakes."
"The Mortal Storm" was only the second credited role for Robert Stack, 21. Moving with his family to Europe from Los Angeles as a baby, Charles Langford Modini Stack did not learn English until he was seven after returning to the states. He later excelled in polo and skeet shooting, winning national championships. While taking drama courses at Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts, Stack visited Universal Studios where he was spotted by a producer, who gave him a screen test. Studio executives loved what they saw from the college student and signed him to a contract, with his film debut in 1939's 'First Love.' He became famous in the movie for kissing young starlet Deanna Durbin, her first on-screen smooch.
Variety noted that "The Mortal Storm" wasn't "the first of the anti-Nazi pictures, but it is the most effective film exposé to date of the totalitarian idea, a slugging indictment of the political and social theories advanced by Hitler." And The New Yorker John Mosher predicted "The cruel story is told without any of the highlights of horror. We feel that what lies behind is worse than what we are shown." The film is listed in the '1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die" reference book.