This American drama film, adapted from Hans Fallada’s 1932 novel, portrays the struggles of a young couple in Germany during the early years of the Nazi regime. Following the trials of Hans Pinneberg and his wife Emma (nicknamed “Lammchen”), the story captures the hardship of economic instability, the strains of personal dignity, and the resilience needed to survive in a changing and increasingly oppressive society.
Genre: Drama
Director: Frank Borzage
Frank Borzage (1894–1962) was an acclaimed American film director and actor known for his deeply romantic style and humanistic approach to storytelling. He won the first Academy Award for Best Director for the film 7th Heaven (1927) and later received another for Bad Girl (1931). Borzage often focused on the endurance of love and compassion in the face of adversity, crafting films with strong emotional resonance and atmospheric visual style.
Star Cast:
- Margaret Sullavan as Emma “Lammchen” Pinneberg
- Douglass Montgomery as Hans Pinneberg
- Alan Hale as Holger Jachmann
- Catherine Doucet as Mia Pinneberg
- DeWitt Jennings as Kleinholz
- Frederick Burton as Mr. Morschel
Upon its release, the film received praise for its sensitive adaptation and the moving performances, particularly from Margaret Sullavan in her film debut. While it softened some of the harsher political criticism of the original novel to suit Hollywood audiences, the film’s emotional honesty and depiction of ordinary people’s struggles resonated strongly during the Great Depression era.
Fun Facts:
The movie is noted for preserving the spirit of compassion and perseverance that characterized Borzage’s body of work.
This was Margaret Sullavan’s first screen appearance, marking the start of her successful Hollywood career.
The original novel by Hans Fallada was a bestseller in Germany before being banned by the Nazi regime.
The film downplayed the explicitly anti-Nazi elements of the book, reflecting Hollywood’s cautious stance toward political issues in the 1930s.
Frank Borzage’s direction brought a poetic and romantic sensibility to a story grounded in economic hardship.
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