Hotel Berlin (1945)

Near the end of WW II, a member of the German underground (Martin Richter) escapes from the Gestapo and takes shelter at Hotel Berlin, where he meets Lisa Dorn, a sleek actress involved ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Godfrey

Writers:

Vicki Baum (novel), Jo Pagano (screenplay),

Stars:

Faye Emerson, Helmut Dantine, Raymond Massey

Cast

Credited cast:
Faye Emerson	...	Tillie Weiler
Helmut Dantine	...	Dr. Martin Richter
Raymond Massey	...	Arnim von Dahnwitz
Andrea King	...	Lisa Dorn
Peter Lorre	...	Johannes Koenig
Alan Hale	...	Herman Plottke
George Coulouris	...	Joachim Helm
Henry Daniell	...	Baron Von Stetten
Peter Whitney	...	Heinrichs
Helene Thimig	...	Frau Sarah Baruch
Steven Geray	...	Kleibert
Kurt Kreuger	...	Major Otto Kauders
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Yvonne Hekren	...	Hotel Guest
Gloria Paythe	...	Woman in Air Ride Shelter
Margaret Story	...	Woman in Air Ride Shelter

Storyline

Near the end of WW II, a member of the German underground (Martin Richter) escapes from the Gestapo and takes shelter at Hotel Berlin, where he meets Lisa Dorn, a sleek actress involved with General von Dahnwitz, who is also trying to leave Germany. The hotel is a hotbed of Nazis, refugees, spies and ordinary Germans trying to survive inevitable defeat without getting too involved.

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Plot Keywords:

hotel | spy | world war two | based on novel

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Taglines:

SHOCKING! See the amazing expose of inside Germany today!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 March 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Berlin Hotel

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Enjoyable ensemble film

This war film offers a unique slant on the German political/social climate during early 1945. Because it was conceived without the benefit of hindsight it's that much more interesting to view 60 years later. While the story is necessarily compacted to allow for the drama of various characters to be inserted, there is a solid story at the core. Good performances...Raymond Massey was particularly fine in a relatively low key role while Peter Lorre plays a repentant Nazi with equal effectiveness. The female leads here are also great, especially Faye Emerson as the hotel "hostess." There are some dated elements of propaganda (a painting of Hitler hanging in hotel lobby prompts one guest to comment "I'd like to see him hanging another way") All the same this film offers thoughtful character studies of human beings at their best and worst while under duress. Some plot loopholes exist but they do not greatly detract from story; the brisk pace holds viewer attention from beginning to end. A worthwhile way to spend an hour and a bit.