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The North Star (1943)
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Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
3 March 1945 (Sweden) moreTagline:
A rolling wall of hell that couldn't be stopped... A handful of men who had to stop it!Plot:
A Ukrainian village must suddenly contend with the Nazi invasion of June 1941. full summary | add synopsisAwards:
Nominated for 6 Oscars. moreUser Comments:
Pretty Interesting, for A New Set Of Reasons Now moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Anne Baxter | ... | Marina Pavlova | |
| Dana Andrews | ... | Kolya Simonov | |
| Walter Huston | ... | Dr. Pavel Grigorich Kurin | |
| Walter Brennan | ... | Karp | |
| Ann Harding | ... | Sophia Pavlova | |
| Jane Withers | ... | Clavdia Kurina | |
| Farley Granger | ... | Damian Simonov | |
| Erich von Stroheim | ... | Dr. von Harden | |
| Dean Jagger | ... | Rodion Pavlov | |
| Eric Roberts | ... | Grisha Kurin | |
| Carl Benton Reid | ... | Boris Stepanich Simonov | |
| Ann Carter | ... | Olga Pavlova | |
| Esther Dale | ... | Anna | |
| Ruth Nelson | ... | Nadya Simonova | |
| Paul Guilfoyle | ... | Iakin |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
108 minCountry:
USAColor:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 moreSound Mix:
MonoFun Stuff
Quotes:
Clavdia Kurina, doctor's granddaughter: Oh Grandpa, Anna, somebody help me, make me do something right - the way everybody else does. Keep me from being so frightened. Keep me from crying. Please! moreFAQ
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In its time, this probably fulfilled its desired purpose reasonably well, with a fine cast and some effective scenes depicting the suffering caused by Nazi troops. It is probably more interesting now, when it can be viewed with more objectivity, and when it is interesting for a new set of reasons. Its depiction of life in the Soviet Union is a revealing statement about the priorities of its time. The actual movie and story, viewed apart from any and all political issues, work quite well at times, while falling short at others.
The first part of the story simply dwells on the daily lives of the residents of a Ukrainian farm town. This part is quite slow, and would be of little interest except for the sharp change of tone that comes with the Nazi attack. As banal as the lives of the villagers may have seemed, they certainly did nothing to deserve the suffering they bore as a result of the invasion. Things pick up dramatically in the second part, and at the same time the characters come more sharply into focus.
Naturally, the scenario is more fiction than fact, especially in its idyllic depiction of life under Stalin's rule. More than anything else, this reflects the urgent desire of the US Government (whose hand was supposedly quite active in the production) to promote full-fledged public support for working with the Soviet Union against the Axis. Like the majority of features in any era that address a then-contemporary issue, it looks much different when viewed years afterward. The truth about both Stalin and Hitler is much easier for us now to determine than it was for the movie's original viewers.
The cast helps considerably in making it work on a dramatic level. Experienced stars like Walter Huston and Walter Brennan combine with then-young performers like Anne Baxter, Farley Granger, and others to create a generally interesting set of characters. Jane Withers also has a good role, as a hapless but often endearing young woman who is desperate to help. Lillian Hellman brought her considerable reputation to the screenplay, although this kind of material is not really her strength. Lewis Milestone shows his steady hand in the battle sequences.
Because the cast, director, and writer all add their weight to the production, this works well enough as a fictional drama as long as you set aside what you thought or think about the USSR. As history, the story is not reliable, but the movie itself is interesting as one of the more earnest attempts of its day to use cinema to influence public opinion.