Underground

1941 "The World's Secret Battlefront!"
7.2| 1h35m| en
Details

A World War II Hollywood propaganda film detailing the dark underside of Nazism and the Third Reich set between two brothers, Kurt and Erik Franken, whom are SS officers in the Nazi party. Kurt learns and exposes the evils of the system to Erik and tries to convince him of the immoral stance that marches under the symbol of the swastika.

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Reviews

AniInterview Sorry, this movie sucks
Platicsco Good story, Not enough for a whole film
BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.
Voxitype Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
LeonLouisRicci Early Hollywood Nazi Movie set in Germany Following a Pirate "Underground" Radio Station and the Nationalist but Anti-Nazi Germans that Risked Their Lives trying to bring Truth to the Population. Oppressive and Gestapo Tactics were being "Jack Booted" on the People with Restrictions on Everything from the Media to Free Speech. This Group of Resistance Fighters and Their Tribulations are Presented in a High Suspense Social Picture that WB did so Well.It has a basically No-Name Cast but all Deliver Riveting, Believable Performances and the Film was Gripping and Obviously Topical, at the Time, and Deserves to be Rediscovered as one of the Best, Unseen and Forgotten Films that is Preachy Without being Overbearing and Thought Provoking Without Doubt.Concentration Camps and the Devastating Effect the Torture had on "Enemies of the State", Brutal Beatings of Suspects (including Women and old folks), Nazi Iconography Dominating Scenes, and a Family Literally Torn Apart by the Hitler Regime are all Included here and No Restraint.The Ending is Wicked and Heart Wrenching but Turns to an Upbeat Note in the "Nick of Time" (but at such cost). This is a Powerful Film and Holds Up much more than many of its Type made Throughout the War. A Must See.
blanche-2 "Underground" is a good propaganda movie that came out of Warner Brothers in 1941. It's lacking major stars, but the story is certainly A list. Philip Dorn and Jeffrey Lynn star as German brothers on opposite sides. Dorn is a member of the underground, which uses a traveling illegal radio to broadcast to the people, while Lynn is a returning soldier who has lost his arm. He becomes interested in an attractive violinist, Sylvia (Kaaren Verne) who performs in a tavern, unaware that his brother knows her from the underground and that they are both members. This leads to problems as the Nazis close in.Vincent Sherman does an excellent job of directing. The rest of the cast includes Martin Kosleck a a nasty Nazi, and Mona Maris as his assistant, also an underground member. The Dutch Dorn gives a very good performance, as does Lynn. The ending of the film is quite touching.As someone on this site pointed out, the Germans let the Nazis come into power and didn't do much in the way of resistance. There was a strong French resistance, as well as the Yugoslav Partisans, the Polish Home Army, the Soviet partisans, the Italian CLN, the Norwegian Resistance, the Greek Resistance and the Dutch Resistance. One doesn't hear much about German resistance. Warner Brothers probably just assumed it was active.A good movie.
mail-671 When I saw this as a kid I found it a grim.vivid & gripping introduction to the wartime "underground" movement in an occupied territory courtesy Warner Bros as did Martin Kosleck's ruthless Gestapo officer and the silent struggle of one German brother to stick to his convictions in direct opposition to the other,an enemy where discovery meant certain torture & death. It has never been shown on UK TV - certainly not by TCM. I distinctly still recall the relief when this feature in the cinema was quickly followed by the next week's trailer in contrasting brilliant technicolour for Greer Garson in "Blossoms In The Dust"! Only a few years ago I finally tracked down the video which I believed never existed in the States & did not hesitate to have it sent over. It is in pretty good condition & brought back those memories. Barely a year later,(1941), 2 Cities Films in Britain released its blander & lighter version, "Freedom Radio" which starred two of Britain's then leading stage stars, Clive Brook ("Cavalcade") and Diana Wynyard which has had TV showings. In this version the ethical differences & attitudes in defying the gestapo were between husband & wife and various Nazis played(as was then usually the case)by other well known British faces with English accents.
ny1mwd26 Quite honestly, I never had heard of this film before. And, having just watched it, much to my regret. It was made before U. S. entry into World War II. Yet, Hollywood was quite aware of the evils being perpetrated by the Third Reich. Coincidentally, the case is dominated by actors born in Europe. The story is not that new. Two brothers are on different sides of the spectrum in Berlin: one is a leader of the resistance movement, the other is a wounded German who maintains strong loyalty to the Reich. The film centers on how their worlds and visions collide, with a backdrop of the Nazis' trying to find and silence the resistance's radio broadcasts. The acting is first-rate all around. I suspect this would have been a 'bigger' film if Warner Brothers had used the 'A' team. All in all, a very good little movie.