This Land Is Mine (1943)
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 7
Fresh: 5 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2
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Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 109
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Movie Info
Written by Dudley Nichols and directed by French expatriate director Jean Renoir, This Land is Mine is one of those "inspirational" wartime dramas that just don't hold up too well when seen today. The scene is an unnamed European country, recently overrun by the Nazis (this takes place during a "silent" opening sequence that's the best thing in the film). Charles Laughton plays Albert Lory, a mama's-boy schoolmaster who is the object of his students' ridicule. A craven coward, Lory is held
Jan 1, 1943 Wide
Jul 28, 1990
Cast
-
Charles Laughton
Arthur Lory -
Maureen O'Hara
Louise Martin -
George Sanders
George Lambert -
Walter Slezak
Maj. Erich von Keller -
Kent Smith
Paul Martin -
Una O'Connor
Mrs. Emma Lory -
Philip Merivale
Prof. Sorel -
Thurston Hall
Mayor Henry Manville -
George Coulouris
Prosecuting Attorney -
Nancy Gates
Julie Grant -
Ivan Simpson
Judge -
John Donat
Edmund Lorraine -
Frank Alten
Lt. Schwartz -
Leo Bulgakov
Little Man -
Wheaton Chambers
Mr. Lorraine -
Cecil Weston
Mrs. Lorraine -
-
Joan Barclay
Young Woman -
Tommy Bond
Julian -
-
George Carleton
Jury Foreman -
Gordon B. Clark
Lieutenant -
John Dilson
Mayor's Secretary -
Ludwig Donath
German Captain -
Margaret Fealy
Old Woman -
Otto Hoffman
Printer -
-
George MacQuarrie
Chief of Police -
Edward McNamara
Policeman -
-
Henry Roquemore
Butcher -
-
-
-
George Sorel
German Sergeant -
-
Mary Stuart
Photo Double -
Hans Von Morhart
Soldier Who Gets Slappe... -
William Yetter Jr.
Otto -
Lloyd Ingraham
Paper Man in Street -
Jack Shea
Burly Cop -
Philip Ahlm
German Lieutenant -
-
Casey Johnson
Boy -
Hans Moebus
German Chauffeur -
Linda Ann Bieber
Emily -
Oscar Lorraine
Clerk -
Hal Malone
Bit in Courtroom -
-
Ida Shoemaker
Woman in Street -
Gus Taillon
Newsman -
Walter Thiele
German Soldier -
-
Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum
German Captain -
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All Critics (8) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (2) | DVD (1)
Jean Renoir's 1943 film has its passionate defenders; the unfortunate thing, though, is that it needs them.
Top CriticOne of his quietest and least startling.
It should have been stronger drama than it is. But for the points it does make and its concept of man as a continuing vessel for freedom's fire, it is certainly well worth seeing. It comes close, even if doesn't quite hit the mark.
Fails to be as inspirational when viewed today as it probably was during its day.
It moves along like a well-oiled machine until the devestating final act ties all of the smaller stories together, making it's point without being overbearing or obvious.
There is no black and white, no good or evil. There is only grey, and, in that grey area, an understanding of the frailty of human nature.
The best film of Renoir's wartime American exile is a moving tirade against Nazism that packs quite an emotional punch.
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Foreign Titles
- This Land Is Mine (1943) (DE)
- This Land Is Mine (1943) (UK)
On the surface, there are certain similarities between "This Land Is Mine" and Jean Renoir's previous "Grand Illusion" about camaraderie between supposed enemies. In the six years between the films, the world had changed radically(not to mention the films are about different wars) and while the Nazis in "This Land Is Mine" might at first seem polite and urbane(von Keller certainly knows his Latin), the villagers should never view them as friends, as food shortages and censorship are only the beginning, much worse being hinted at. What Renoir has on his mind is not a recruitment film, but more a call to arms of sorts against tyranny of all shapes and sizes that displays more than one form of courage.(Ostensibly, the movie is set in France but it could be anywhere.) All of which is handled in a nuanced style and is well-filmed, especially its opening shot and two action sequences. While the movie might follow a familiar trajectory with a climactic speech, it is a perfectly eloquent speech.