Freedom Radio
| Freedom Radio | |
|---|---|
.jpg) DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Anthony Asquith |
| Written by | Anatole de Grunwald Jeffrey Dell Basil Woon |
| Story by | Roland Pertwee Bridget Boland |
| Produced by | Theo Lageard Mario Zampi |
| Starring | Clive Brook Diana Wynyard Raymond Huntley Derek Farr |
| Cinematography | Bernard Knowles |
| Edited by | Reginald Beck |
| Music by | Nicholas Brodszky |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release dates | 1 February 1941 (UK) 4 February 1941 (USA) |
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Freedom Radio (a.k.a. "A Voice in the Night"[1]) is a 1941 British propaganda film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Clive Brook, Diana Wynyard, Raymond Huntley and Derek Farr. It is set in Nazi Germany during the Second World War and concerns an underground German resistance group who run a radio station broadcasting against the totalitarian Third Reich.
Plot
An eminent Viennese doctor in Germany becomes increasingly disillusioned with the oppressive brutality of the Nazis. His wife however, is flattered by the attentions of the Führer, and accepts a political post in Berlin. At first the doctor does nothing as his friends "disappear", but eventually, with the aid of an engineer, he creates a secret radio station where he broadcasts condemnations of Hitler and prays for a "better" Germany to arise from the ashes of his ruined country. The birth of "Freedom Radio" sees the creation of an underground group of anti-Nazis who regard Karl as their leader.[2][3]
Cast
- Clive Brook as Dr. Karl Roder
- Diana Wynyard as Irena Roder
- Raymond Huntley as Rabenau
- Derek Farr as Hans Glaser
- Joyce Howard as Elly
- Howard Marion-Crawford as Kummer
- John Penrose as Otto
- Morland Graham as Father Landbach
- Ronald Squire as Rudolf Spiedler
- Reginald Beckwith as Fenner
- Clifford Evans as Dressler
- Bernard Miles as Captain Müller S
- Gibb McLaughlin as Dr Weiner
- Muriel George as Hanna
- Martita Hunt as Frau Lehmann - Concierge
- Hay Petrie as Sebastian
- Manning Whiley as SS Trooper
- Katie Johnson as Granny Schmidt
- George Hayes as Policeman
- Everley Gregg as Maria Tattenheim
- Marie Ault as Woman Customer
- Abraham Sofaer as Heini
- Joan Hickson as Katie
- Pat McGrath as Kurt
- Wyndham Milligan as SS Guard
- Bunty Payne as Ema
- William Hartnell as Radio Operator
Critical reception
- The New York Times wrote "this is a frankly propagandistic drama...The admirable emotional restraint which went into the making of several of the better British war films seen here in the past year is sadly lacking"[1]
- Sky Movies called the film, "gripping, strongly cast and more subtle than most propaganda thrillers of its time...And film buffs may spot Katie Johnson, later to win fame in The Ladykillers but here, 13 years earlier, already in granny roles!"[4]
External links
References
- ^ a b T.M.P. (23 May 1941). "Movie Review - A Voice in the Night - At the Globe". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "Freedom Radio | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "A Voice in the Night (1941) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "Freedom Radio - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 22 September 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2014.