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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

    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
    A rousing WWII propaganda picture.
    If you are looking for a realistic portrayal of WWII and the German occupation of Norway, perhaps this isn't the best film ("The Heroes of Telemark" is probably better for that). This is NOT a criticism of "The Moon is Down"...in fact it's a very good film and did its job of inspiring the American people during WWII.

    The film is set in Norway just before the German invasion of 1940. The townspeople in a small mining town are all happy and oblivious to the coming stampede. Soon Nazis flood the country and their leader in the town (Cedric Hardwicke) has one goal...total obedience from the people. To do so, they'll kill as many people as they need to in order to keep the iron mine opening and running at capacity. But the locals cannot stand their new German overlords and throughout the film, they work to undermine the occupiers...even at the risk of their lives. This all leads to a VERY rousing finale-- one that still packs a powerful punch today.

    This Twentieth Century Fox film is interesting because it shows the Germans as being brutal...but no more so than they actually were in their occupied territories! Instead of focusing too much on this, the movie really centers on the resistance of the Norwegians. An inspiring and well made film based on a story from John Steinbeck of all people. Well worth seeing.
    helpful•8
    1
    • planktonrules
    • Feb 7, 2016

    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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