The Sunset Blvd Blogathon – So Ends Our Night (1941)

This is the final of 3 posts dedicated to The Sunset Boulevard Blogathon being held over at Pure Entertainment Preservation Society

Tnx Tiffany and Rebekah for letting me take part! (sorry for my tardiness)

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“What right do you have questioning me? ” – Ludwig Kern

Number of Times Seen – 1 (6 Jan 2021)

Brief Synopsis – Two German refugees try and find a way to stay in their homeland even after they lose their rights after the rise of Nazis into power.

My Take on it –This is yet another film that I knew absolutely nothing about before coming across it n my research for films starring Eric Von Stroheim for this blogathon.

The film is one of the very first ones to depict the Nazis for who they really were and despite attempts by the Breen Commission to soften the film’s tone, it still comes across quite powerfully.

The story allows us to see how refugees n Europe needed to deal with the ever changing situation as the war drew closer.

The film has a spectacular cast with Fredric March, Margaret Sullavan and Glen Ford all giving very powerful and poignant performances.

Von Stroheim has a small part here as a Nazi spy, but definitely stands out in the role.

The main characters are all developed quite well and we can understand each of their plights really well.

Each of these characters tries to find a way to survive the various laws of the Nazis imposed upon Non-Aryans while still wanting to stay close to their roots and heritage despite this.

The Nazis and their minions are always around and they must do all they can to try and escape the far grasp of the ever enlarging area of Nazi occupation.

The story itself is great because it lets us see what kind of lengths people are willing to go to in order to find a way to at least feel free even if they are unable to have that true freedom.

Bottom Line – Powerful film that truly was able to show the various issues that refugees faced during the onset of World War II. The cast is spectacular with March, Sullavan, Ford and Von Stroheim all given stellar performances here.  The film was one of the very first to really show the horrific ways that the Nazi regime treated non-Aryans and the characters all need to find a way to escape the grasp of the Nazi occupational forces. The way that this story unfolds is great and allows us to really see what desperate people are willing to do in order to maintain their freedom. Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – Was nominated for an Oscar for Best Dramatic Score. (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (8/10)

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