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Underground

  • 19411941
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
526
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Underground (1941)
  • Adventure
  • Drama
  • Romance
A World War II Hollywood propaganda film detailing the dark underside of Nazism and the Third Reich set between two brothers, Kurt and Erik Franken, whom are SS officers in the Nazi party. K... Read allA World War II Hollywood propaganda film detailing the dark underside of Nazism and the Third Reich set between two brothers, Kurt and Erik Franken, whom are SS officers in the Nazi party. Kurt learns and exposes the evils of the system to Erik and tries to convince him of the im... Read allA World War II Hollywood propaganda film detailing the dark underside of Nazism and the Third Reich set between two brothers, Kurt and Erik Franken, whom are SS officers in the Nazi party. Kurt learns and exposes the evils of the system to Erik and tries to convince him of the immoral stance that marches under the symbol of the swastika.
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
526
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Vincent Sherman
  • Writers
    • Charles Grayson(screenplay)
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(story)
    • Oliver H.P. Garrett(story)
  • Stars
    • Jeffrey Lynn
    • Philip Dorn
    • Kaaren Verne
Top credits
  • Director
    • Vincent Sherman
  • Writers
    • Charles Grayson(screenplay)
    • Edwin Justus Mayer(story)
    • Oliver H.P. Garrett(story)
  • Stars
    • Jeffrey Lynn
    • Philip Dorn
    • Kaaren Verne
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos8

    Philip Dorn, Martin Kosleck, Jeffrey Lynn, and Peter Whitney in Underground (1941)
    Underground (1941)
    Kaaren Verne in Underground (1941)
    Martin Kosleck, Mona Maris, and Hans Schumm in Underground (1941)
    Martin Kosleck, Mona Maris, and Hans Schumm in Underground (1941)
    Underground (1941)
    Underground (1941)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jeffrey Lynn
    Jeffrey Lynn
    • Kurt Frankenas Kurt Franken
    Philip Dorn
    Philip Dorn
    • Eric Frankenas Eric Franken
    Kaaren Verne
    Kaaren Verne
    • Sylvia Helmuthas Sylvia Helmuth
    Mona Maris
    Mona Maris
    • Fräulein Gessneras Fräulein Gessner
    Peter Whitney
    Peter Whitney
    • Alexas Alex
    Martin Kosleck
    Martin Kosleck
    • Helleras Heller
    Erwin Kalser
    • Dr. Frankenas Dr. Franken
    Ilka Grüning
    Ilka Grüning
    • Frau Frankenas Frau Franken
    • (as Ilka Gruning)
    Frank Reicher
    Frank Reicher
    • Professor Baumeras Professor Baumer
    Egon Brecher
    • Herr Directoras Herr Director
    Ludwig Stössel
    Ludwig Stössel
    • Herr Mülleras Herr Müller
    • (as Ludwig Stossel)
    Hans Schumm
    Hans Schumm
    • Heller's Aideas Heller's Aide
    Wolfgang Zilzer
    Wolfgang Zilzer
    • Hoffmanas Hoffman
    Roland Varno
    Roland Varno
    • Ernst Demmleras Ernst Demmler
    Henry Brandon
    Henry Brandon
    • Rolfas Rolf
    Lotte Palfi Andor
    Lotte Palfi Andor
    • Greta Rolfas Greta Rolf
    • (as Lotte Palfi)
    Lisa Golm
    Lisa Golm
    • Ellaas Ella
    Louis V. Arco
    • Ottoas Otto
    • (as Louis Arco)
    • Director
      • Vincent Sherman
    • Writers
      • Charles Grayson(screenplay)
      • Edwin Justus Mayer(story)
      • Oliver H.P. Garrett(story)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Maltese Falcon sits behind Fräulein Gessner's desk at Gestapo HQ. It is from the original 1931 production (The Maltese Falcon (1931)), not the classic 1941 remake (The Maltese Falcon (1941)).
    • Goofs
      When Kurt is having dinner with his family after returning from war; he is holding a spoon and pointing the bowl tip of it toward his family as he argues his viewpoint about war. But on the next immediate cut; the orientation of how he is holding the spoon has changed. On the next cut after that, he is no longer holding the spoon.
    • Quotes

      Kurt Franken: I'm not going to let you go on working with those traitors.

      Sylvia Helmuth: Take me back and I'll do anything you want me to do. You'll only take me back.

    • Connections
      Featured in Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Rosen aus dem Süden, Op. 388 (Roses from the South)
      (uncredited)

      Music by Johann Strauss

      Played on the violin at Maxels Cafe

    User reviews22

    Review
    Top review
    Powerful anti-Nazi thriller.
    This top rate production from Warners Bros., tells the story of the anti-Nazi underground and its attempts to sway the German people to reject the Nazi regime and put an end to its war machine. This film is far better than many other later anti-Nazi films cranked out by Hollywood during WW2. The cast all give top rate performances. Martin Koslec is effectively slimey as the Nazi secret police leader who is out to crush the underground. After seeing him here, no wonder he made a career portraying evil Nazi leaders. Perhaps the most memorable performance is by Wolfgang Zilzer as the sad, pathetic former underground leader who becomes a traitor in exchange for release from the hellish torture he is undergoing in a Nazi concentration camp. The scene where he is confronted by underground leaders and forced to commit suicide has real power. The lighting and the music are perfect. Seen today, this film might seem a bit optimistically naive. It gives the viewer the impression the Nazi regime would soon fall from power. None the less the film effectively portrays the terror inflicted on the German people to assure obedience to its corrupt and evil regime.

    Note; One odd idea thrown in, is a suggestion about why Rudolph Hess fled Germany and flew into London. During one of the underground broadcasts, Philip Dorn states that Hess fled to escape the gestapo and tell the world the truth. This sounds a bit naive, since everything suggests in real life Hess was always a staunch supporter of the Nazi regime. Of course the whole Hess affair is still to this day shrouded in mystery, and we may never know the real reason why Hess flew into London. That, however is a matter of discussion for another forum.
    helpful•13
    1
    • youroldpaljim
    • Oct 27, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 28, 1941 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Підпілля
    • Filming locations
      • Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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