The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

During World War II, a teenage Jewish girl named Anne Frank and her family are forced into hiding in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands.

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Frances Goodrich (screenplay), Albert Hackett (screenplay)

Stars:

Millie Perkins, Shelley Winters, Joseph Schildkraut

Won 3 Oscars. Another 5 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Millie Perkins	...	Anne Frank
Joseph Schildkraut	...	Otto Frank
Shelley Winters	...	Mrs. Petronella Van Daan
Richard Beymer	...	Peter Van Daan
Gusti Huber	...	Mrs. Edith Frank
Lou Jacobi	...	Mr. Hans Van Daan
Diane Baker	...	Margot Frank
Douglas Spencer	...	Kraler
Dodie Heath	...	Miep (as Dody Heath)
Ed Wynn	...	Mr. Albert Dussell

Storyline

In Nazi-occupied Holland in World War II, shopkeeper Kraler hides two Jewish families in his attic. Young Anne Frank keeps a diary of everyday life for the Franks and the Van Daans, chronicling the Nazi threat as well as family dynamics. A romance with Peter Van Daan causes jealousy between Anne and her sister, Margot. Otto Frank returns to the attic many years after the eventual capture of both families and finds his late daughter's diary.

---

Plot Keywords:

attic | diary | world war two | amsterdam netherlands | holocaust | 

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | History | War

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

1959 (UK)

Also Known As:

El diario de Ana Frank

Filming Locations:

Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$5,014,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

George Stevens Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min 171 min (FMC Library Print)

Sound Mix:

Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ed Wynn was born before the real-life person he plays in the film: Wynn was born in 1886, Fritz Pfeffer ("Albert Dussel" in Anne Frank's list of aliases) was born in 1889. Add the time difference between 1944 and 1959, and the age gap between actor and character increases.

---

Goofs

On the first night of Hanukkah, Anne says it is December 7, 1942 - a Monday - and two candles are lit and blown out. When Otto Frank goes to inspect the break-in, he says it is Saturday and no one will return until Monday. The same two extinguished candles are seen throughout the scene.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Kraler: Mr. Frank. - Mr Frank?
Otto Frank: Kraler. - Mr. Kraler. Miep. My good friends.

---

Crazy Credits

At the end, neither a "The End" credit nor a cast list appears, only the title of the film once more ("The Diary of Anne Frank").

---

Alternate Versions

Originally released at 170 minutes, then later cut and available only in 156-minutes version. Complete edition has been recently restored on video.

---

Connections

Version of Het korte leven van Anne Frank (2001)

---

Soundtracks

In Naam van Oranje
(uncredited)
Traditional

User Reviews

Good but inaccurate

The only complaint I have about this movie is the lack of accuracy.

The last diary entry we have is on August 1, 1944. There was no time - and she was not allowed to - make a quick note in the diary about what had just happened when the Gestapo had burst into the room to arrest them.

The arrest itself is completely wrong too - the helpers WERE there, and two of them were arrested along with the people in the Annex. They were not just standing there at the door waiting for the bookcase to come down and the police to run up. They had no clue was was about to come - and their arrest was a major surprise and disappointment to them because they were so close to liberation.

I understand the need to sugarcoat the issue, but it is a disgrace to those who lived it to portray it so inaccurately.

But then, that's just my opinion.