Watch on the Rhine (1943)

Director:

Herman Shumlin
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Writers:

Dashiell Hammett (screen play) and
Lillian Hellman (additional scenes and dialogue) ...
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Release Date:

27 August 1943 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

On her lonesome lips a smile.

Plot:

Sara and Kurt Muller and their three children are returning to her mother's home in Washington DC after 18 years in Europe...

Plot Keywords:

Blackmail | Washington D.C. | Embassy | Mexican Border | Rich Snob

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Sara Muller
Paul Lukas	...	Kurt Muller
Geraldine Fitzgerald	...	Marthe de Brancovis
Lucile Watson	...	Fanny Farrelly
Beulah Bondi	...	Anise
George Coulouris	...	Teck de Brancovis
Donald Woods	...	David Farrelly
Henry Daniell	...	Phili Von Ramme
Eric Roberts	...	Bodo
Donald Buka	...	Joshua
Anthony Caruso	...	Italian Man
Helmut Dantine	...	Young Man
Clyde Fillmore	...	Sam Chandler
Erwin Kalser	...	Dr. Klauber
Kurt Katch	...	Herr Blecher
Clarence Muse	...	Horace
Frank L. Wilson	...	Joseph (as Frank Wilson)
Janis Wilson	...	Babette
Mary Young	...	Mrs. Mellie Sewell
Rudolph Anders	...	Oberdorff (as Robert O. Davis)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Leah Baird	...	Miss Drake (uncredited)
Joseph E. Bernard	...	Trainman (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	German Embassy Servant (uncredited)
Herma Cordova	...	Woman (uncredited)
Elvira Curci	...	Italian Woman (uncredited)
Jean De Briac	...	Mr. Chabeuf (uncredited)
Joseph DeVillard	...	Spanish General (uncredited)
Gretl Dupont	...	Woman (uncredited)
Michele Fehr	...	Baby (uncredited)
Robert Fischer	...	German Ambassador (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Embassy Party Guest (uncredited)
Alan Hale Jr.	...	Boy (uncredited)
Creighton Hale	...	Chauffeur (uncredited)
Howard C. Hickman	...	Cyrus Penfield (uncredited)
Violett McDowell	...	Belle (uncredited)
Edmund Mortimer	...	German Embassy Ball Guest (uncredited)
Jack Mower	...	Trainman (uncredited)
Wedgwood Nowell	...	American Diplomat (uncredited)
Garry Owen	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Frank Reicher	...	Admiral (uncredited)
Walter O. Stahl	...	German Embassy Butler (uncredited)
Hans Tanzler	...	German Diplomat (uncredited)
Hans von Morhart	...	German (uncredited)
William Washington	...	Doc (uncredited)

Directed by
Herman Shumlin
Hal Mohr		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Dashiell Hammett		(screen play)
Lillian Hellman		(additional scenes and dialogue)
Lillian Hellman		(from the stage play by)

Produced by
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer
Hal B. Wallis	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Max Steiner

Cinematography by
Merritt B. Gerstad		(director of photography) (as Merritt Gerstad)
Hal Mohr		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rudi Fehr

Art Direction by
Carl Jules Weyl

Set Decoration by
Julia Heron		(set decorations)

Costume Design by
Orry-Kelly		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Perc Westmore	....	makeup artist
Bill Phillips	....	makeup (uncredited)
Tillie Starriett	....	hair (uncredited)

Production Management
Chuck Hansen	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ridgeway Callow	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Maybery	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Morris Goldman	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Special Effects by
Edwin B. DuPar	....	special effects
John Holden	....	special effects director

Camera and Electrical Department
Ellsworth Fredericks	....	second camera (uncredited)
Claude Hutchinson	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Roy Noble	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Bert Six	....	stills (uncredited)
George Stout	....	best boy (uncredited)
S.K. Taylor	....	grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)
Mary Riley	....	wardrobe (uncredited)
Ted Schultz	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo F. Forbstein	....	musical director
Hugo Friedhofer	....	orchestral arrangements

Other crew
Edward A. Blatt	....	dialogue director (as Edward Blatt)
Florence O'Neill	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Peter Pohlenz	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros. (presents) (as Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.) (A Hal B. Wallis Production) (A Warner Bros.-First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros.
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved | Australia:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Busch Gardens - S. Grove Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros.

Trivia:

The play, "Watch on the Rhine" by Lillian Hellman premiered at the Martin Beck Theater in New York City on 1 April 1941 and closed on 21 February 1942 after 378 performances. Paul Lukas as Kurt Muller, Lucile Watson as Fanny Farrelly, George Coulouris as Teck de Brancovis, Eric Roberts as Bodo Muller and Frank L. Wilson as Joseph all originated their movie roles in the play. Also in the cast were Mady Christians as Sara Muller and Helen Trenholme as Marthe de Brancovis.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the breakfast scene between Beulah Bondi and Lucile Watson, Watson's hair keeps changing between medium and close shots (from behind): It is much flatter in the scenes shot close.

Quotes:

Kurt Muller:I do what must be done. That is what I know how to do.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed (2012)

Soundtrack:

Akademische Festouvertüre (Academic Festival Overture) Op. 80

An excellent movie

It may (or may not) be considered interesting that the only reason I really checked out this movie in the first place was because I wanted to see the performance of the man who beat out Humphrey Bogart in his CASABLANCA (10/10 role for the Best Actor Oscar. (I still would have given the Oscar to Bogie, but Paul Lukas did do a great job and deserved the nomination, at least.) Well, I'm glad I did check this movie out, because I enjoyed it immensely. I think the movie did preach a little, but not only did I not mind, I enjoyed the speeches and was never bored with them.

The acting was outstanding in this movie. I especially enjoyed Paul Lukas, Lucile Watson (rightfully nominated for an Oscar), Bette Davis (wrongfully not nominated), George Coulouris and, oddly, Eric Roberts, who plays the middle child. I really enjoyed his character: an odd-looking boy who talks like some sort of philosopher. He just cracks me up. Even the characters name (Bodo) is funny.

The ending, in which Lukas's character was forced to do something he considered wrong even though he was doing it for all the right reasons, worked for me as well. I agreed with why he felt he had to what he did, and I understood why he couldn't quite explain it. The message this movie makes is a good and noble one, the scenery (meaning the house) is beautiful, and the acting is the excellent. Watch this movie if you ever get a chance.

9/10