Sigourney Weaver narrates this compelling story two-hour documentary directed by Karen Thomas.
Cinema’s Exiles also includes behind-the-scenes archival footage, rarely seen historical footage, eyewitness accounts, Marlene Dietrich’s Blue Angel screen test, home movies and photographs. Interviews include screen actress Lupita Kohner, Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang and Fred Zinnemann.
Many exiles became extremely successful in the German film industry but they never regained their former recognition.
The documentary opens with scenes from Casablanca—a great film classic film produced by many exiles who loathed Hitler’s regime.
Golden Age of German Cinema
Berlin became the culture capital of the world after World War I. Its best film talents were collected under the one roof—Ufa Studios—with Erich Pommer as its head. Its success stories included actor Peter Lorre; directors Fritz Land, Henry Koster; composers Frederick Hollander, Hans Salter, Franz Waxman and cinematographer Rudy Mate.
Many Avant-garde and ground-breaking pictures such as The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, The Blue Angel and M-The Murderers Among Us were created.
Bismark had acknowledged the Jews brought a “champagne sparkle” to Berlin’s cultural life whilst Adolf Hitler claimed they were the source of Germany’s problems and stirred up anti-Semitic feelings. More Germans pledged their allegiance to the Nazi Party with high unemployment levels. The Nazis popped up like mushrooms but many didn’t realise the seriousness of them at the time.
The Third Reich
Many fled Germany by train to Paris when Hitler became Chancellor on 30 January 1933. Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels took over the industry and excluded Jews from employment.
Paris was flooded with German cinema exiles where some found work. The fortunate few received offers from Hollywood.
Frederick Hollander shared his experiences in a book, Those Torn From Earth.
Lupita Kohner shares an amusing anecdote how she smuggled money out of Germany in her knitting!
Many Austrians also fled to Hollywood after Germany took over Austria in 1938.
Hollywood
Over 800 film professionals fled to Hollywood from 1933 to 1939. Many made huge contributions to American cinema including film noir, the horror genre, comedy, dramas and even westerns. They even changed the role of music in motion pictures.
The European Film Fund was established to help refugees. Those working contributed part of their salary to help those who were unemployed. Exiles were introduced into the Hollywood mainstream. Some adapted more easily into American culture than others.
Most became American citizens and made remarkable contributions to cinema especially during Hollywood’s Golden Years.
The US Army commissioned Billy Wilder to make a documentary of the horror of concentration camps. Every exile lost friends, relatives or both during the Holocaust.
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