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The Moon Is Down

  • 19431943
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
441
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Dorris Bowdon in The Moon Is Down (1943)
  • Drama
  • War
During the Nazi occupation of Norway, a small Norwegian village struggles to cope with the invaders and some locals choose collaboration while others prefer armed resistance.During the Nazi occupation of Norway, a small Norwegian village struggles to cope with the invaders and some locals choose collaboration while others prefer armed resistance.During the Nazi occupation of Norway, a small Norwegian village struggles to cope with the invaders and some locals choose collaboration while others prefer armed resistance.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
441
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Irving Pichel
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson
    • John Steinbeck(novel "The Moon Is Down")
  • Stars
    • Cedric Hardwicke
    • Henry Travers
    • Lee J. Cobb
Top credits
  • Director
    • Irving Pichel
  • Writers
    • Nunnally Johnson
    • John Steinbeck(novel "The Moon Is Down")
  • Stars
    • Cedric Hardwicke
    • Henry Travers
    • Lee J. Cobb
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 18User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins

    Photos7

    Dorris Bowdon and Peter van Eyck in The Moon Is Down (1943)
    Hans Schumm in The Moon Is Down (1943)
    Cedric Hardwicke in The Moon Is Down (1943)
    Lee J. Cobb and Henry Travers in The Moon Is Down (1943)
    Dorris Bowdon in The Moon Is Down (1943)
    Dorris Bowdon, Henry Travers, Peter van Eyck, and Margaret Wycherly in The Moon Is Down (1943)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cedric Hardwicke
    Cedric Hardwicke
    • Col. Lanseras Col. Lanser
    Henry Travers
    Henry Travers
    • Mayor Ordenas Mayor Orden
    Lee J. Cobb
    Lee J. Cobb
    • Dr. Albert Winteras Dr. Albert Winter
    Dorris Bowdon
    Dorris Bowdon
    • Molly Mordenas Molly Morden
    Margaret Wycherly
    Margaret Wycherly
    • Mme. Sarah Ordenas Mme. Sarah Orden
    Peter van Eyck
    Peter van Eyck
    • Lt. Tonderas Lt. Tonder
    William Post Jr.
    William Post Jr.
    • Alex Mordenas Alex Morden
    Henry Rowland
    Henry Rowland
    • Capt. Loftas Capt. Loft
    E.J. Ballantine
    E.J. Ballantine
    • George Corellas George Corell
    Hans Schumm
    Hans Schumm
    • Capt. Bentickas Capt. Bentick
    Frederic Brunn
    • German Soldieras German Soldier
    • (as Frederick Brunn)
    Ernst Deutsch
    Ernst Deutsch
    • Maj. Hunteras Maj. Hunter
    • (as Ernest Dorian)
    Ludwig Donath
    Ludwig Donath
    • Hitler's Voiceas Hitler's Voice
    • (as Louis Donath)
    Richard Abbott
    • Villageras Villager
    • (uncredited)
    Louis V. Arco
    • Schumannas Schumann
    • (uncredited)
    Georgia Backus
    Georgia Backus
    • Villageras Villager
    • (uncredited)
    John Banner
    John Banner
    • Lt. Prackleas Lt. Prackle
    • (uncredited)
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • Knute Pierson - Foremanas Knute Pierson - Foreman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Irving Pichel
    • Writers
      • Nunnally Johnson
      • John Steinbeck(novel "The Moon Is Down")
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    When the Germans invade Norway their Commandant and the town Mayor confront each other, attempting to maintain civility as far as possible. When the army tries to orgnanize townspeople to work for them sabotage which is at first humorous turns serious, resulting in death on both sides. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    • german officer
    • nazi invasion
    • sabotage
    • collaborator
    • mayor
    • 39 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The man who killed My husband...Now he wants to make love to me! I am a woman...My house is lonely...My arms are hungry...But my heart remembers! Soon...there will be One less of this horrible horde!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Filmed on the same sets used for the Welsh mining village in How Green Was My Valley (1941).
    • Goofs
      Most of the German soldiers are wearing WWI-style Stahlhelm helmets, not the WWII version used from 1935 on. Also, paratroopers (Fallschirmjagers) are shown, but none of the German troops are wearing their helmet - without the projecting visor and flared rim.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Tonder: Last night I dreamed that Hitler was crazy!

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits are shown with a hand gesturing to a map of Norway, indicating what is about to take place in the film.
    • Soundtracks
      A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
      Traditional Christian hymn

      Music by Martin Luther

    User reviews18

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Occupational Hazards
    One of the better World War II propaganda films it has stood the test of time far better than a lot in the era. Possibly because the original source was a novel by one of America's best known authors John Steinbeck.

    The story is about the Nazi occupation in a small Norwegian town and it is told from the viewpoint of both the conquered and the conquerors. As such in one of the few films of the era, Nazis are presented as three dimensional people and not just merciless Huns. The film also has no box office name stars which in the long run has probably helped with authenticity.

    The Nazis invaded and occupied Norway to gain control of its long Atlantic coast line and prevent supplies from getting to the Soviet Union from Archangel and Murmansk. Except in certain circumstances the interior was left alone. This was one of those circumstances.

    The town here has an iron mine which is the chief employer. The Reich wanted that mine, wanted the iron ore production stepped up, hence the occupation. Cedric Hardwicke is the commander of the occupying Nazi army and he deals with the occupational hazards of garrisoning a hostile town and making slave labor of its citizens.

    Henry Travers is the mayor and Lee J. Cobb the town doctor and the leading two citizens of the town. Hardwicke tries to work with them and Travers especially tries to explain that you folks just aren't wanted. Hardwicke in fact deliberately refuses to remove Travers from office to put the local Quisling E.J. Ballantine in his place. In the end though he falls back on standard Nazi methods.

    Ballantine should be singled out. He did not make too many film appearances and The Moon Is Down is his first. But even Hardwicke and his troops can't stand a traitor.

    Peter Van Eyck has an interesting role too. The Scandinavians were viewed in the Nazi racial pecking order as fellow Aryans and the bad reception they got when taking over Denmark and Norway was a bit unsettling to their troops. They were told that occupation and the chance to join the Reich would be welcomed. Van Eyck who's a country kid tries to make friends and it unnerves the hate that he's given in return.

    This film is a real gem from the World War II years. It should be rediscovered and evaluated as one of the best films of the era.
    helpful•19
    1
    • bkoganbing
    • May 7, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 29, 1943 (Mexico)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Se ha puesto la luna
    • Filming locations
      • Big Bear Lake, Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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