Review of The Mortal Storm (1940) by Ashley H — 02 Jun 2010

"The Mortal Storm" is a superb drama and one of the earliest American films to speak out against the Nazi threat in Europe. Starting out on the day Hitler seizes power of Germany in 1933, the story chronicles the tragic disintegration of a once-happy German family torn apart by opposing political convictions as radical Nazism sweeps through the minds of nearly every young man in the country like wildfire.

Those who are non-Aryan or pacifist are quickly ostracized by their community, and eventually hunted down as enemies of the state. Old friends and family ties are suddenly underlined by immense social tension, leaving peaceful households in ruin.

It's not difficult to recognize "The Mortal Storm" as a piece of propaganda that champions individual rights over blind patriotism and totalitarianism, but its agenda does not detract from the emotional experience of the film.

It's a very compelling story, terrifically acted by a cast that includes Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullavan, and Frank Morgan, all of them excellent. The film boasts highly polished studio production values, Bill Daniels' photography standing out in particular.

Memorable scenes include an impassioned book burning and a climactic ski chase to the Austrian border.