Blockade (film)

Movie
German title	blockade
Original title	blockade
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1938
length	84 minutes
Rod
Director	William Dieterle
script	John Howard Lawson , ; James M. Cain
production	Walter Wanger
music	Werner Janssen
camera	Rudolph Maté
cut	Walter Reynolds , ; Dorothy Spencer
occupation
	Madeleine Carroll : Norma; Henry Fonda : Marco; Leo Carrillo : Luis; John Halliday : Andre; Vladimir Sokoloff : Basil; Robert Warwick : General Vellejo; Reginald Denny : Eddie; William B. Davidson : Commanding Officer; Lupita Tovar : dancer; Katherine DeMille : dancer;

Blockade is a 1938 American drama film directed by William Dieterle, based on a story by John Howard Lawson .

action

Spain in spring 1936: the farmer Marco loves his homeland. He longs for the day when he can afford a tractor. Marco and his friend Luis witness an expensive car break down. At the wheel is Norma, who wants to go to Castelmare. With the help of his cattle, Marco and Luis drag the car to the destination. Norma wants to visit her father Basil, an art and antique dealer. Even as a simple farmer, Marco knows his way around art. He admires Norma's beauty, who in turn takes a liking to Marco. And although Norma longs for a simple life like Marcos', the differences in their circumstances are too great for a relationship.

When Marco and Luis return from Castelmere, they hear gunshots. The civil war has started. Norma, Basil and Andre, Basils partners, try to get out of the combat zone, while Marco calls on his neighbors to take up arms and fight for their country. He forms the people who join him into a combat group. For his courage, he was made a lieutenant in the Republican army.

Some time later, in a bar, Marco meets Basil, who is dressed as a farmer but wears expensive shoes. Since he has never met Basil before, he does not recognize Norma's father, who works as a secret agent. Marco looks suspicious of the man and follows him. Basil wants to shoot his pursuer, but Marco kills him in self-defense. Norma comes home and is shocked by her father's death. She doesn't think Marco, who killed her father, wants to help her. During an air raid, Marco brings Norma to safety in a basement, but they are buried there until Luis digs them up again.

Norma disappears until Andre finds her at General Vellejo's headquarters. Andre works for the other side, but is friends with Vellejo. He wants Norma to work for him. Although she refuses, she realizes that she will be killed without Andre's help. If she works with him, she can leave the country. Andre sends her back to Castelmere. On the train, Norma meets Marco. He tells her he doesn't care what she does. Just be careful. Norma meets the English journalist Eddie, who reports on the war. From him she learns that the enemies have built a blockade and sealed off Castelmere.

Weeks later, the city's residents suffer from a lack of food. Norma feels responsible for helping the enemy. As she walks through the besieged city with Eddie, she collapses under the tension. She confesses her betrayal to Marco, who, however, lets her go to convince the enemy of changed plans. Marco doesn't trust Norma and has the enemy headquarters bombed. When he gets there, he finds out that Norma wanted to help him, but is now angry about his suspicions.

The residents witness a ship carrying supplies being sunk. Vellejo comes to town, Marco indulges Norma. But Norma only wants to help the threatened residents. She reports Andre as a spy, but soon discovers that Vellejo has been working with Andre the entire time. Andre admits that he caused Basil's discovery and that Norma needs to help him again. Marco reveals that the sunken ship was bait and the right supply ship is just arriving. Vellejo's reaction shows him that Vellejo is a fraud. Norma is able to get Andre's weapon and shoot Andre, but is captured by Vellejo, who tries to portray her as a traitor, along with Marco. When the people greet the arriving ship, he brings them from the commanders. However, the commandant believes Marco and Norma and has Vellejo arrested. He offers the two of them to seek their fortune in another country. But Marco knows that they will not find peace because the fight will never end.

background

Blockade was filmed at Samuel Goldwyn Studios in Culver City from February 16 to May 15, 1938. The exterior shots were taken on the Los Angeles River . The premiere took place on June 3, 1938 in Los Angeles, another on June 16, 1938 at Radio City Music Hall , New York, and was released on June 17, 1938.

The film drew protests from the conservative camp. Catholic organizations in particular, such as the Knights of Columbus, accused the filmmakers of sympathizing with the left-wing camp. In Boston there were protests by Catholics who wanted to have the film banned, but the mayor of the city declined.

In Spain, too, there were protests on the part of the Frankists who wanted to have Walter Wanger's film and all future productions banned. But Wanger himself replied that he would not change the film, that he would not prefer any side of the Spanish civil war. However, this was precisely the point of criticism. The film took no position and did not name any of the fighting sides in the film.