The Roth family lead a quiet life in a small village in the German Alps during the early 1930s. When the Nazis come to power, the family is divided and Martin Brietner, a family friend is caught up in the turmoil.
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Title: The Mortal Storm (1940)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Margaret Sullavan | ... | ||
| James Stewart | ... | ||
| Robert Young | ... |
Fritz Marberg
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| Frank Morgan | ... |
Professor Viktor Roth
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| Robert Stack | ... |
Otto Von Rohn
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| Bonita Granville | ... |
Elsa
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| Irene Rich | ... |
Mrs. Emilia Roth
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| William T. Orr | ... |
Erich Von Rohn
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| Maria Ouspenskaya | ... |
Mrs. Hilda Breitner
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Gene Reynolds | ... |
Rudi Roth
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| Russell Hicks | ... |
Rector
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William Edmunds | ... |
Lehman
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| Esther Dale | ... |
Marta
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| Dan Dailey | ... |
Holl
(as Dan Dailey Jr.)
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| Granville Bates | ... |
Professor Berg
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Interesting to note that the film was made in 1940, 1 year before America's entry into the European war against Hitler. The movie depicts Germany in 1933. In 1938 the 'night of broken glass' took place. Interesting to note the attitudes portrayed in the film, definitely anti-Nazi. Written by Matt Goodwin
Taglines:
The Most Exciting Picture!Genres:
DramaCertificate:
See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 June 1940 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
La tempête qui tue See more »Filming Locations:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA See more »Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1
Edit
[white clouds appear; they quickly turn to storm clouds]
Narrator: When man was new upon the earth, he was frightened by the dangers of the elements. He cried out, "The gods of the lightning are angry, and I must kill my fellow man to appease them!" As man grew bolder, he created shelters against the wind and the rain and made harmless the force of the lightning. But within man himself were elements strong as the wind and terrible as the lightning. And he denied the existence of these ...
See more »
(1864) (uncredited)
Written by S.F. Cameron
Sung by bar patrons
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
When this movie was made, America was not part of World War II. Most of the heads of the major studios in Hollywood were for American involvement in the war. This movie is one of a number made during the late 1930s and early 1940s that represented this belief. These films include A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941), Man Hunt (1941), Foreign Correspondent (1940), Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939) and Sergeant York (1941). See more »Goofs
Although the story takes place in 1933, Margaret Sullavan's hairstyle and clothing are strictly in the 1940 mode. See more »Quotes
[first lines][white clouds appear; they quickly turn to storm clouds]
Narrator: When man was new upon the earth, he was frightened by the dangers of the elements. He cried out, "The gods of the lightning are angry, and I must kill my fellow man to appease them!" As man grew bolder, he created shelters against the wind and the rain and made harmless the force of the lightning. But within man himself were elements strong as the wind and terrible as the lightning. And he denied the existence of these ...
See more »
Soundtracks
Close Up the Ranks(1864) (uncredited)
Written by S.F. Cameron
Sung by bar patrons
See more »
I first saw The Mortal Storm when I was twelve or so and it made a huge impression on me. I've wanted to re-watch ever since and today, twenty-years later, I caught it again.
Produced in 1940, Frank Morgan, James Stewart and Margaret Sullivan head a terrific cast. This is a film which makes you think and makes you angry. Yes, it's melodramatic, but so what? It's melodrama in the best sense of the word. This is emotion serving the cause of reason, casting a shining light on darkness. This is a film which still has the power to make you sweat.
I'd like to address some of the specific criticisms made in the other comments.
Firstly, the film is set in 1933. It opens with the rise to power of Hitler, and visual references to the year 1933 appear in the film (The professor's paperwork in the prison, for instance, is dated August 29, 1933). How much time passes during the film is unclear, it is certainly less than a year, so escaping to Austria WAS still an option.
Secondly, the reason the "sons" could be Nazis, despite the Professor being "Non Aryan" was that they were his step-sons, the children of his wife's first marriage. I'm fairly certain that the daughter and younger son DID belong to the Professor, although this is not made clear.