The Mortal Storm

Starring: Margaret Sullavan, James Stewart, Robert Young, Frank Morgan, Robert Stack, Bonita Granville, Irene Rich, William T. Orr
Directed by: Frank Borzage
Rating: Passed
Genre: Drama
1940

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A German family is divided as Adolf Hitler comes to power. Some see the ris eof the Nazis as liberation for Germany, others fear the moral consequences.

Review:

Tim: I found it incredibly interesting to see a film from the 1940s that looked at what life was like for a German family under the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. It was an interesting choice to make this a movie completely about Germans. In later films, Germans would consistently be painted as the villains (and honestly, after what they did during World War II, I'm okay with this portrayal). So it was interesting to see a more nuanced approach here. The Germans aren't the bad guys, the Nazis are. That distinction is important. The movie itself might not be as powerful as similar movies from this time period, but it was still an enjoyable film.

I really appreciated that this was one of the few anti-Nazi movies to come out of Hollywood before the United States entered World War II. You look at the movie now and it seems obvious to blatantly attack Nazi Germany, but it was less obvious back then. It took slightly more courage. In that vein, this is also an important movie because it served as an early warning about the evils happening with the Nazis.

It was interesting to see so many Americans playing Germans, but I didn't have too much trouble with this. I love James Stewart and it was fun seeing him in this role. It was good seeing him in a more restrained, serious role. He has a big part, but he's not the main star and that worked well. Margaret Sullavan does a good job in the lead role. She was likeable, strong, and good. I enjoyed the interplay between Sullavan and Stewart. They had acted together before and that comfortableness added to their chemistry. The film also boasts a strong supporting cast. Robert Young was very good in his role, as was Robert Stack. Frank Morgan added a good supporting performance as well. The cast as a whole was quite strong.

While the film never succeeds enough to be iconic, there are still some memorable scenes. I liked the scene of the Nazis and non-Aryans clashing at the pub. There are some tense sequences at the lodge and obviously, the big skiing chase scene at the end. None of these scenes are truly unforgettable, but they certainly added to the drama in the film. They are well directed by Frank Borzage.

The Mortal Storm is an important movie for delivering an early anti-Nazi message. It also happens to be an entertaining, well-acted movie. It's been forgotten a bit because there were so many significantly better movies from the early 1940s, but this is still a well-made, enjoyable movie.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Shop Around the Corner, Sergeant York, Casablanca