The North Star (1943)

Synopsis: Both director Lewis Milestone and the film's screenwriter, Lillian Hellman came under close scrutiny during the HUAC hearings for having worked on a film so sympathetic to the Russian people. The committee seemed to have forgotten that, at the time, the Soviet Union was an ally. The film,... Both director Lewis Milestone and the film's screenwriter, Lillian Hellman came under close scrutiny during the HUAC hearings for having worked on a film so sympathetic to the Russian people. The committee seemed to have forgotten that, at the time, the Soviet Union was an ally. The film, starring Walter Huston as Dr. Kurin, opens on a typically peaceful day in the rural village of North Star. But as Kolya (Dana Andrews), an off-duty military pilot and his brother Damian (Farley Granger) walk along a village road with their friends Marina (Anne Baxter) and Claudia (Jane Withers), they're attacked by the Luftwaffe. The village is also bombed and the people quickly organize to fight an incipient invasion. Dr. Kurin orders the villagers to burn their houses, to leave nothing for the Nazis. Despite a brief conflict, the Nazis occupy the village, and the famous German surgeon Dr. Otto von Harden (Erich von Stroheim) reveals the purpose of their visit. He intends to bleed the village children to provide transfusions for the Nazi wounded. Erich von Stroheim and Walter Huston turn in excellent performances, and Aaron Copland contributes a fine score. [More]