This is my country

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Movie
German title This is my country
Original title This Land Is Mine
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1943
length 103 minutes
Rod
Director Jean Renoir
script Dudley Nichols
production Dudley Nichols,
Jean Renoir
for RKO Pictures
music Lothar Perl , music director: Constantin Bakaleinikoff
camera Frank Redman
cut Fredric Knudtson
occupation

This is my country (AKA This Land Is Mine ) is a US-based war drama by Jean Renoir from the year 1943. Charles Laughton represented a meek, timid school teacher in one of the Nazis during World War II occupied French town that takes a change and finally boldly expresses what many think but dare not say. Maureen O'Hara plays his courageous colleague with whom he is secretly in love. Leading roles are occupied by George Sanders , Walter Slezak , Kent Smith and Una O'Connor .

The film won an Oscar in the “Best Sound” category.

action

The teacher Albert Lory lives with his possessive and often arrogant mother Emma in a French town occupied by the German Wehrmacht. One day, a copy of the flag of National Socialist Germany that was hoisted at the town hall was pushed under the door, with a copy of the Liberty resistance paper, a leaflet directed against Nazi rule. Although his mother urges Albert to destroy the paper, the teacher keeps it.

Lory is secretly in love with his colleague Louise Martin, who, like her brother Paul, bravely opposes the German occupation. Meanwhile, Albert and Louise are confronted at school with the fact that Henry Manville, the city's mayor, has instructed Professor Sorel, the headmaster, to erase the works of Plato and Aristotle from the history books. When Albert instructs his students to tear the offensive pages out of the books in the opinion of the German occupation, Louise swears that one day she will put the pages back in the books. She disgusts Albert's willingness to cooperate.

When an Allied bombing threatens the city, Albert looks pathetic in the school's protective cellar, while Louise remains courageous and distracts her students with singing. Albert later confesses to his friend Sorel that he knows he is a coward, whereupon Sorel asks him to be strong for the children and to convey to them that a person must keep his dignity and show respect for freedom.

When a train is being sabotaged at the station, Commandant Major von Keller asks the station manager, George Lambert, to tell him the names of the saboteurs. Lambert, who is engaged to Louise, is a secret employee of the German leadership because he sympathizes with the regime. A little later, Paul throws a grenade at a group of German soldiers who have formed a platoon under the leadership of Kellers. He manages to escape to the Lorys' courtyard over the roofs of the city. Von Keller has since taken nine other people hostage in addition to Sorel and announced that they would all be shot if the person who threw the grenade did not report. When Louise informs her fiancé Lambert of Sorel's arrest and the announcement by Kellers, she is stunned to see the latter breaking off her engagement and explaining to her that sabotage is an act of cowardice.

That evening Albert is eating at Louise's and is about to confess his love to her when they hear police sirens wail while Paul sneaks into the house. Shortly afterwards, when German soldiers conduct an interview, Albert Paul's statement confirms that he was in the house at the time of the attack. Albert is taken away by the Germans, without giving any further reasons, who come across the Liberty resistance paper during his search. When Emma Lory hears about this, she reacts hysterically and tells Lambert about Paul's suspicious behavior. He informs the mayor, who in turn informs Keller. Although Lambert thinks about it and wants to warn Paul, his insight comes too late that Paul is shot while trying to escape, as it is said.

Albert is released from prison and wonders why the other hostages remain in prison. He finds the answer in Louise's accusation of betraying Paul and his mother's admission. Albert then goes to the train station, where von Keller is currently influencing Lambert to attend Paul's funeral and to listen to Louise inconspicuously about her brother's accomplices. When Albert storms into Lambert's office, the latter shoots himself because he has now realized what he has done. Albert is then arrested by the Germans on charges of murdering Lambert. He insists on defending himself in court. Since he loses his prepared speech, the normally shy teacher surprises with an impressive speech off the cuff. He denounces the cowardice of those who work together and appeals to everyone individually to be courageous. When the trial is interrupted until the next day, von Keller visits the teacher in his cell and offers Albert to turn up a suicide note allegedly written by Lambert if he does not continue his speech in court. Von Keller recognized the danger that Albert's statements pose. In fact, Albert is considering complying with Keller's request until the moment when a look out of his cell window falls on his friend Sorel and the nine other hostages who are being brought to a firing squad. When Albert calls out his friend's name, he even smiles encouragingly at him before he boldly looks death in the eye.

The next day the public prosecutor presented Lambert's alleged suicide note to the court, which Albert denounced as a forgery. He bravely explains that the courtroom is now the only place where you can still enjoy free speech. He affirms that Paul was a hero and that sabotage is the only option left in an occupied country to oppose injustice. He names the names of the collaborators whose motive is self-interest and confesses his love for Louise. The jury pleads not guilty and Albert can go back to work at the school. The teacher now goes on to tell his students about the courage of those who go to death smiling, such as his friend Sorel, and also reads to them from the document “ Déclaration des Droits de l'Homme et du Citoyen ”. When the Germans come to arrest him, Albert gives the writing to Louise, who reads on.

production

Production notes, background

The production company was RKO Pictures . The film was shot between October 11 and December 11, 1942, with re-shooting on December 18, 1942. Although the opening sequence of the film only states “Somewhere in Europe”, it is clear that Renoir's French homeland forms the setting. Renoir recommended the film with the words: Especially recommended to Americans to show that everyday life in an occupied country is not as easy as some of you think.

In addition to Dudley Nichols, according to the Hollywood Reporter , Jean Renoir was also involved in the script, which Renoir also confirmed. The director said he made the film because he was annoyed by the boasting of French exiles who were safe in Los Angeles and how much braver one had to be to resist while living in France. Renoir and Nichols were previously involved in the film Swamp Water . The men valued each other very much. Renoir brought along his longtime collaborator, production designer Eugène Lourié.

The Oscar given to the film in the Best Sound category was the only Oscar ever to go to a Renoir film. The director himself received an honorary award in 1974 for his work in the field of film, a belated gesture to a legendary filmmaker who stands for numerous masterpieces.

occupation

For Renoir, Laughton was the preferred candidate for the lead role. They quickly found each other at a meeting and became friends. Laughton said of his role that it represents countless confused so-called little people in Europe who have to bow to someone they hate and cannot understand. As an opponent to Laughton's part, Renoir would have liked to have his friend Erich von Stroheim , but he canceled because of other commitments, whereupon Walter Slezak was filled. Slezak, who took the train to California with Laughton, had a copy of the script that Laughton read on a train during the night. He was enthusiastic and let the boss of the RKO studio know in a telegram by writing: What a tremendous challenge for a tired old dope comedian.

Laughton and Maureen O'Hara, who had been chosen for the female part, had been known since the films The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Reef Pirates for the chemistry between them and the audience feeling the same. And that was also shown in the movie This Land Is Mine . O'Hara was also one of the most popular actresses of her time. George Sanders, who plays an ambivalent part here, was best known for his cynical roles.

Soundtrack

Letting the German soldiers sing a text by Heinrich Heine , which was ostracized under National Socialism , and whose books, being un-German, fell victim to the book burning in 1933, is a subtle move by Renoir. Heine's works were so popular at the time that they were still published, albeit with the note "Author unknown".

Lux Radio Theater

Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Sullivan re-played their roles on a broadcast on the Lux Radio Theater on April 24, 1944.

publication

The film, which had the working title The Children and then Mr. Thomas , was shown simultaneously in the United States on May 7, 1943 in 72 cinemas in fifty capitals. The dates were broadcast on the WLW radio station in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Hollywood Reporter later read that the simultaneous performances had set a new industry record with their gross income on the opening day.

On May 27, 1943, the film then ran in New York and generally in cinemas in the United States. It was published in Mexico and Argentina in 1943, and in Australia and Sweden in 1944. It was shown for the first time in France and Italy in 1946, in Denmark in 1947 and in Portugal in 1954. It was first broadcast on television in Finland in 1967, in 1977 in Spain and on May 28, 1979 in the Federal Republic of Germany.

It was also shown in Belgium, Brazil, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

criticism

On film posters of that time one could read: Cheered by the press and the public. The vital, pulsating story of the indomitable courage of a person. Charles Laughton in his greatest role since the mutiny on the Bounty . Maureen O'Hara in her best role since Beating Weather .

Bosley Crowther praised in the New York Times : In a sincere and responsible attempt to highlight the melodramatic aspects of the Nazi occupation of a foreign country and to visualize the conflicts that the curtailment of freedom through tyranny is causing in the human soul, Jean Renoir and Dudley have Nichols made a sane, courageous film with only the title hinting at occasional violence. Crowther recommends the film above all to those who needed a little jerk to remember the preciousness of freedom, but also to those who would be interested in a neatly and maturely told story. The plot shows the crucial difference between those who would submit to tyrants and those who would not. It is also revealed that it is not always the meek or the at first glance not so impressive people who would not resist, on the contrary, there are some among them who would muster inner strength in a moment of crisis. to be brave. However, it is difficult to assume that the Nazis would have tolerated a man who could have spoken freely in court. When would the Nazis ever have respected the sovereignty of the courts? Charles Laughtons did not fare so well in judging his performance in this film.

On the side of the Bishops' Conference of the United States there was talk of a patriotic history of a city in Europe occupied by the Nazis. It also said: Under the direction of Jean Renoir, the anti-nationalist goals of the film are not achieved through the melodrama of the constructed plot, but through the serious action of a good cast. Stylized violence.

Dennis Schwartz of Ozu's World Film Critics was of the opinion that the film suffered from the fact that it was a war propaganda drama and was very verbose. If you look at it today, it is not very inspiring, which it probably was in its day. In addition to the talkativeness of the film, Schwartz also found himself struck by the fact that the Nazis would hardly have allowed Laughton's character to speak so freely in one of their courtrooms that aroused doubts about its credibility.

Derek Smith of Cinematic Reflections spoke of an underrated masterpiece by Renoir, which, if only because of the brilliant rules of the game that it lays down, in conjunction with humanism and social criticism, unfolds its effectiveness. Renoir presented the different ways of thinking through different characters and used his characters to record what it really was like to be conquered, and pointed out that the citizens of the occupied countries were just as responsible for the rise of the Third Reich as the Nazis themselves. Charles Laugthons Achievement take the movie to a new level. His seamless transformation from clumsy coward to worthy patriot comes with such natural grace and finesse that you want to support him like a friend. Renoir's low-key style and well-rounded group of characters created a portrait of underground revolution, secret machinations and cowardice and courage in the face of a subtly evil enemy.

Glenn Erickson wrote that Jean Renoir, a great talent, was one of the most respected émigrés and that his This Land Is Mine project was considered propaganda against the Nazis. Working with Dudley Nichols and Eugène Lourié, Renoir doesn't just rely on the representation of hostilities to make his point clear. Instead, he used actor Charles Laughton's ability to evoke strong emotions in the audience. The reunification of Laughton with his co-star from The Hunchback of Notre Dame Maureen O'Hara dramatizes the bitter patriotic need of the occupied countries to resist their conquerors. The aspect of the script is ingenious, as it portrays Major von Keller, played by Walter Slezak, neither as an ideologist nor as a sadist, as is often the case in war films. Charles Laughton's performance in his role is a prime example of impressive acting. The story is practically built around his talent. The film offers a proactive plea for humanity and justice and resistance to evil.

Award

Stephen Dunn was awarded an Oscar for his work in film in the "Best Sound" category at the 1944 Academy Awards.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ This Land Is Mine Original Print Info adS TCM - Turner Classic Movies (English)
  2. ↑ a b c d Eleanor Quin: This Land Is Mine adS TCM (English)
  3. ↑ a b c This Land Is Mine Notes adS TCM (English)
  4. ↑ This Land Is Mine movie poster adS IMDb
  5. ↑ This land Is Mine movie poster adS IMDb
  6. ↑ Bosley Crowther : "This Land Is Mine", a Moving Drama About Freedom, With Maureen O'Hara and Charles Laughton, Opens at the Rivoli
    In: The New York Times , May 28, 1943 (English). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ This Land Is Mine adS archive.usccb.org (English). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  8. ↑ Dennis Schwartz: "This Land Is Mine" - Fails to be as inspirational when viewed today as it probably was during its day.
    adS homepages.sover.net (English). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  9. ↑ Derek Smith: This Land Is Mine ( Memento from January 8, 2018 in the Internet Archive ) adS cinematicreflections.com (English). Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  10. ↑ Glenn Erickson: This Land Is Mine Home Video Reviews adS dvdtalk.com (English)