Edgar Allan Pooh " . . . the politics of the hour," MGM's Wizard of Oz (Frank Morgan) lectures America about 40 minutes into THE MORTAL STORM. This uncannily prescient 1940 flick actually pictures German college students burning Albert Einstein's plans for the atomic bomb because their corporal-in-chief has called "E = MC squared" fake news during one of his Make Germany Great Again rallies. This, of course, sealed the Third Reich Dittoheads' doom, as they turned up their "Aryan" noses on the Weapon that Won the War. Consequently, more than half of all male Germans older than age 11 were rubbed out, mostly by U.S. bombs (many of which were dropped by Real Life U.S. Army Air Force Brig. Gen. James Stewart, who plays "Martin" in this picture). As a consequence, ALL the Germans shown in THE MORTAL STORM are speaking American (since the victors get the spoils, while losers get the victors' language). Now that America is stubbornly marching in THE MORTAL STORM's goose-stepping boot prints, the only remaining question is WHICH language will we be forced to learn a few years down the road: Russian, Chinese, or Korean?

Alex da Silva Frank Morgan (Professor Roth) is a respected German Scientist/Biology Lecturer. The film starts on his 60th birthday in 1933 – the same day that Adolf Hitler assumes the Chancellorship of Germany. Uh-oh…. Maybe things won't be the same.This film entertains as it shows the bullying power (Nazis) that can be very scary – in any walk of life. The satisfaction comes from the fight back, in this film, led by James Stewart (Martin Breitner) and his mother Maria Ouspenskaya (Mrs Breitner).A scene that stands out for me is the mock wedding that is staged by Ouspenskaya as she unites her son, James Stewart, and his wife-to-be Margaret Sullavan (Freya) at her home before the two lovers embark upon their escape. The scene is played with sentimentality at first that may make you feel that you are embarking upon some kind of nonsense…until you realize that this is Ouspenskaya's last moment that she can share in happiness. Very touching.What is interesting is this film as a document of a time gone by with how things were in Nazi times. There will always be suppression in some form across the globe. I felt that the film delivers a standard ending, however, but the tears should be saved for Maria Ouspa and her fate.

utgard14 Sincere, moving story about the Nazi takeover in Germany and its affect on one family in particular. The father (Frank Morgan) is sent to a concentration camp. His stepsons become ardent Nazis, as does the man who was supposed to marry his daughter (Margaret Sullavan). This also drives a wedge between the sons and a lifelong friend (James Stewart), who is in love with Sullavan.Beautifully acted with fine performances from all. Stewart and Sullavan are amazing. Robert Young, usually playing good guy parts, here plays a Nazi. Bonita Granville does well, as does Ward Bond in a villainous part. Maria Ouspenskaya is brilliant as usual. But the best kudos would have to go to Frank Morgan for his sensitive, intelligent performance. Possibly the finest of his career. Robert Stack also appears as one of the Nazi stepsons and plays a part in the film's powerful final scene.This is truly a classic in every sense of the word. It's a movie that should be seen by everybody, both for its content as well as its historical value.

SimonJack Just imagine what it must have been like to sit in a theater and watch this movie when it came out on June 14, 1940! The bombing of Pearl Harbor was a long way off, and most of us wouldn't even have known where it was. But we would know that there was a war raging in Europe, Asia and elsewhere. Besides radio and newspapers, we got our news then from movie theater newsreels. And we likely would have just seen a newsreel of Germany's invasion of France on June 5 and launch of its North Africa campaign on June 10. "How much longer would it be before the U.S. is drawn into this war?" we might wonder. It seemed to be spreading fast now. In April and May, Germany had invaded Norway, Holland and Belgium. More and more, pacifists began to realize that the U.S. and other peaceful and neutral counties would not be able to escape this war. Germany had annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938, and invaded Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. England and France could no longer ignore Adolph Hitler's intentions by then, so they declared war on Germany. On the other side of the world, Japan was spreading its conquests in Asia since invading China in 1937.So, that was the world war picture when "The Mortal Storm" hit theaters. The film was based on a 1938 novel by Phyllis Bottome (1884-1963). She was an English author and teacher who studied psychology and languages. In 1917, she married Alban Dennis, a British diplomat and intelligence officer. They worked and lived in Austria, Germany and England, including a time when they owned a language school in Austria. Bottome surely knew a lot about Europe, World War I and the rise of Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany. She shows that in her novel that was made into this 1940 movie. The story takes place in 1933 in a small college town in Bavaria, close to the Austrian border. It's the 60th birthday of Professor Roth, played by Frank Morgan. He is a highly respected man of science who teaches chemistry. Students and faculty members surprise him with recognition at the college that day. That evening, the family and two young men friends of the family celebrate with a birthday dinner at the professor's home. The radio is on in the background and the announcer reports that Adolf Hitler has just been appointed chancellor of Germany. That makes the date January 30, 1933.The two oldest stepsons and a family friend played by Robert Young are ecstatic about the news. They head off to celebrate with fellow brown shirts. The professor, his daughter Freya, played by Margaret Sullavan, and friend Martin Breitner, played by James Stewart, are not happy about the news report. The mother and the youngest son don't react to the report, but want the birthday party to continue.Others have noted some subtle treatments in the film. It doesn't use the word, "Nazi," and only names Germany once. That may have been necessary to get the film produced, but everyone knew who the references were to.Before long, the professor is shunned by fellow faculty and students for his anti-Nazi attitude and for teaching the facts of science. He is arrested and put in a concentration camp. This would have been Dachau – just 10 miles northwest of Munich. It was the first Nazi concentration camp for political prisoners and opened in March, 1933. The rest of the film shows how the family and friends are split apart over Nazism. "The Mortal Storm" may be the best historical, prophetic and insightful film ever made about World War II. The movie is excellent itself in its plot, the script, acting and directing. But there is much more to this film than people have commented on so far. It is a warning to the world about evils such as Nazism and how they destroy all that is good – families, homes, communities, love, trust and decency.The scene that shows students burning the college library books that don't agree with Nazism was a perfect picture of how such evil can poison a population – and build fervor especially among people who are ignorant and don't know or see the dangers. That's why it is so important for those who have strong beliefs, reasons and knowledge to stand up and speak to the masses of society – to defend freedom and explain the threats posed to it.The film seems to be a valid warning to people of all times that such evil is able to arise only through the apathy of people. The irony in "The Mortal Storm," is that the one who should know that best, and who was in a position to be heard and to make a difference, became the first to be persecuted because of his apathy. That was the professor himself. Remember from the family gathering and the different views among the young people about Nazism? The professor says that everyone should respect the others for their views. But he never challenges the loud views expressed by the pro-Nazi members of the family. There's an old saying, attributed to various sources, that if we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Another saying, attributed to Edmund Burke, says, "All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing." Perhaps that's the message the author and film makers wanted to get across in "The Mortal Storm." Can we not see some of these same threats today, in government and public attacks on such basic freedoms and rights as speech, religion and life? Unless we learn from history, we may certainly have to live – and die – in another "Mortal Storm."