With the outbreak of World War II, American cinema immediately acquired a patriotic orientation. A huge number of films were devoted to military themes, the topic of espionage and, of course, the topic of the underground anti-fascist movement. All these films ended in different ways: somewhere happy ending, somewhere sad. However, at the end of the films there was always a call to defend their homeland and fight the fascist regime. The picture “Watch on the Rhine” is one of the classic examples of films of this kind.
Synopsis In the early 1940s, World War II was in full swing. Sarah and Kurt Mueller, along with their three children, emigrate to the United States, where they stay with Sarah’s mother. The house is also home to a Romanian prince with close ties to the German embassy. Having learned in Kurt Müller one of the leaders of the anti-fascist movement in Germany, the prince decides to extradite him.
Game of actors Undoubtedly, the strongest side of the film is the acting. Of course, the most impressive roles were the roles of Bette Davis and Paul Lucas. Bette Davis played a devoted wife who is loyal not only to her husband and is ready to follow him to the ends of the world, but also to all mankind, judging by her hatred of the fascist regime. Paul Lux played a courageous man who, for the freedom and happiness of innocent people, is ready to give everything in the world.
Scenario The plot of the film is a combination of genres of family drama and psychological thriller. On the one hand, we see the history of representatives of the well-to-do stratum with their own special traditions and characteristics. The main character is patiently waiting for her return to her home, where her mother and brother are waiting for her. On the other hand, we see the story of the main character’s husband, who always seems to be hiding something. And here we understand that this secret is much more important than family secrets squabbles.
“Watch on the Rhine” is a bright and memorable picture that makes you think about what happened during the Second World War. However, its ideological overtones can slightly spoil the impression, but, nevertheless, I strongly recommend the film to watch, if only because of the acting.
8 out of 10