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.

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Family | History | War

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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:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

George Stevens chose to film in black and white as he believed it would heighten the drama. He also deliberately shot some scenes in near darkness, forcing the viewer to really concentrate on the details.

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Goofs

Anne Frank was given the diary for her thirteenth birthday, a few days before they all went into hiding and not after going into hiding as depicted in the film.

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Quotes

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

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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").

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in Five Came Back: The Price of Victory (2017)

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Soundtracks

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor
(1809) (uncredited)
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven
Played on the radio

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.