The Seventh Cross (film)

The Seventh Cross ( in the original The Seventh Cross) is an American film drama directed by Fred Zinnemann from the year 1944. The screenplay is based on the novel The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers. The German premiere took place on 10 January 1971 at the German television ( ZDF).

Action

1936 can flee near the Rhine seven prisoners from a concentration camp (KZ Osthofen ). The refugees are the teachers Pelzer, the farmer Aldinger, the circus performer Bellani, the writer Füllgrabe, the Jewish merchant Beutler and two political activists, Heisler and Wallau. For each escaped prisoner, the camp commandant Over Kamp on a cross, to which he wants to attach the escaped prisoners. The first one is taken, Wallau is. Wallau dies on the cross provided for it to betray without knowing anything about the other refugees.

Heisler continues to flee with the remaining group. When he steals clothes, he must flee from the police, but Pelzer snaps. Heisler flees to his hometown Mainz, but his former activists friend Schenck has also been arrested. Since his family is monitored, he can not go to her. Another friend, Franz Marnet, can be moved to the help for Heisler by the leader of the local underground group. He wants to get him money and a passport, but can not make contact with the refugee. The Jewish doctor, Dr. Lowenstein, treated Heisler's hand, which he was injured in his escape to a busy with broken glass wall.

However, looking Heisler his childhood friend Leni, but who is married and refused their help. Back on the road Heisler noticed the artistes Bellani who is trying to escape a mob over the rooftops. Bellani is shot and plunges himself into the depths. Heisler enters a shop, which is run by Madame Marelli. Here Bellani wanted to get clothing. He noted that over Kamp Photos brought by him in the newspapers. Füllgrabe wants to face, but Heisler will not give up. He turns to his apolitical friend Paul Roeder, who is married and has children with Liesl. Paul studied on the next day Bruno Sauer, but first refused his help. But his wife Hedy brings oxygen to Marnet and Lowenstein visit. Now we know Marnet where Heisler staying.

Liesl told at home that she has been interviewed on the market by a stranger. Paul takes the worried Heisler with in a back room of a restaurant. Paul now wants to Marnet Heisler, but is arrested by the Gestapo. During the night he is released, but Marnet has noticed the arrest and now wants to quickly get out of Germany Heisler. Heisler gets the pass and instructions. The waitress Toni, in which he has since fallen, warns him of the Gestapo, whose people are in the pub. Toni Heisler hidden in her room until the Gestapo men disappear. On this occasion, she confesses to him that she loved him. Toni knows that she will never see him again and ask him about his plans. Heisler wants in Holland repay his debt to the people who helped him escape. He kisses Toni goodbye. The former cynic is impressed by the courage and humanity of his countrymen.

Reviews

" An extraordinary document about the Nazi era, which remains largely unsentimental in contrast to other anti-fascist propaganda films and endeavors in milieu description and figure drawing to sophistication. "

" Concussion political thriller. "

" An impressive film. Zinnemann's third American production is a great played, coherent anti- fascist film adaptation of the novel of the same name. The humanist message is paramount. "

Awards

  • Nomination in the category Best Supporting Actor for Hume Cronyn

Background

Fred Zinnemann, later known by its Western Classic 12 clock noon, filmed the first movie screenplay by Helen German.

Many had fled from the Nazis in German played in supporting roles in this MGM production, such as Helene Weigel, the wife of Bertolt Brecht, Felix Bressart and Granach Alexander, who died a year later. Cinematographer Karl Freund ( Oscar winner 1938 ) emigrated in 1929 to the United States a.

Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy were married for two years. Here they first played together in a film. In a small supporting role can be seen Allbright Robert Blake as a boy and as Mr. Charles McGraw.

The features of the film came from multiple Oscar - winners Cedric Gibbons and Edwin B. Willis. As a director of the second unit functioned Andrew Marton, who later became director of underwater around the world and several television episodes of Daktari and Flipper. For sound, Douglas Shearer was in charge.

1944 in film Helen Deutsch Pandro S. Berman Film score Roy Webb 17th Academy Awards Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Flipper (1964 TV series) People on Sunday That Mothers Might Live Eyes in the Night The Search A Hatful of Rain The Nun's Story (film) The Sundowners The Day of the Jackal (film) Julia (1977 film)
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