HITLER'S CHILDREN

US, 1943, 83 minutes, Black and White.
Tim Holt, Bonita Granville, Otto Kruger, Kent Smith, H.B. Warner, Hans Conried.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.

Hitler's Children is a small-budget 1943 anti-Nazi propaganda feature from Hollywood. It was directed by Edward Dmytryk, to make such films as Murder My Sweet and Tender Comrades before becoming one of the famous Hollywood Ten.

When he resumed his career in the '50s, he moved to more spectacular films like The Garden of Evil and into the '60s with such films as The Carpetbaggers.

Tim Holt is effective as the young Nazi. Bonita Granville is the American young woman prepared to sacrifice herself for principle. Kent Smith is a sympathetic teacher.

The film focuses on the education of young German children in the '30s and its effect for the war. The film shows a little more subtlety in the presentation of Nazi officials: from Hans Conried's obsessed loyalty to Otto Kruger's more subtle domination. H.B. Warner appears as a bishop, a rather strong presentation of a churchman denouncing the Nazis in the '40s.

1.A film of 1943, anti-Nazi propaganda - for later generations, for neo-Nazi warnings of later decades?

2.Small budget, black and white photography, the studio, representations of Germany, the Nazi world, the score?

3.The focus on Hitler's children, the initial ceremonies, the voice-over and its point of view?

4.Berlin in the '30s, peaceful, the beginning of the fighting, the children fighting at school, the beginnings of fear in the streets and in the shops? The presence of the Gestapo?

5.The Nazi school, the strict regime, the Germans saying that they tend to obey and keep in step? The propaganda of the German birthright to rule the world? The contrast with the neighbouring American school, the relaxed style, freedom of discussion?

6.Nicky, genial teacher, able to confront the Nazis, his journalist friends, care for Anna, sympathy towards Carl? His helping them, the Goethe quote and its being used throughout the film? Anna as his assistant, the arrest, his search? Visiting the officials, wanting to tour the schools? The journalists' help? The meeting with Anna and her pretence of loyalty to the Nazis? His having to leave, listening to the radio - and the Goethe quote? His final comment on his journalist friend and his lack of cowardice?

7.Anna, American background, German birth? The contrast with Carl and his time in America, a German? Their fighting with the kids in the school? Carl listening to her play the piano? Their discussions, liking each other? Carl coming for the first aid? The change in each, Anna working at the school, Carl as a Gestapo official? Coming to the school, taking the children away, taking Anna? Nicky and his attempts to find her, going to her grandparents - and their fear?

8.Anna and her work, the tour of the hospital, her pretending loyalty? Carl and his relationship with the official, the high hopes? The development of his conscience?

9.Anna, her going to the university and refusing, the reports, her failures, antagonism, provocative? The possibility of sterilisation? Nicky seeing the hospital and the operations? Carl and his dismay - warning Anna? Her escape, through the woods, in the dray, in the church, listening to the bishop and his sermon?

10.The bishop and his anti-Nazi stance, a voice of the church? His care for Anna? Representations to the government?

11.Anna being lashed, Carl stopping the lashing, their going to trial, in the cells, his alleged repentance? The officials wanting the showcase and the appeal to youth? The radio, Carl's speech, quoting Goethe? His being shot - Anna being shot?

12.A melodrama for the times?