The Mortal Storm

Play trailer

The Mortal Storm

1940

1h 40m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

100%

Tomatometer

16 Reviews

85%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

Professor Victor Roth (Frank Morgan) enjoys a tranquil life with his family in Germany. His daughter Freya (Margaret Sullavan) is courted both by Martin (James Stewart) and Fritz (Robert Young). However, when the Nazis take control of the country, all their lives are shaken. Martin must flee to Austria because of his political stance. Victor loses his job and is sent to a concentration camp when he speaks out against Hitler. Meanwhile, Fritz joins the Nazis and is obliged to hunt down Freya.

Watch on HBO Max

Stream Now

Fred Camper

Chicago Reader

06/23/2022

A far subtler director than most, Borzage nevertheless uses spatial separation to express moral opposition: good versus evil, us versus them.

Go to Full Review

Jaime N. Christley

Slant Magazine

11/14/2003

4/4

Romance becomes the irritant and, effectively, Borzage positions his romanticism as a contribution to Hollywood's anti-fascist crusade.

Go to Full Review

Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

Feb 12

3.5/5

Although melodramatic, this remains a direct, affecting story about the vast personal cost of individual deference to deafening group rhetoric. Neither does it waste the spark of James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan's final collaboration.

Go to Full Review

Sean Burns

Crooked Marquee

06/17/2025

Maybe 85 years ago it might have been distracting to watch Hollywood movie stars playing Germans who slip into authoritarianism, but now their American accents just make the movie seem more sickeningly timely.

Go to Full Review

Zita Short

InSession Film

02/09/2023

As a pair, they can make the audience invest in the relationship between their characters as well as bringing even the most jaded moviegoer to tears, and it’s utterly magical.

Go to Full Review

Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

08/24/2022

4/5

A gutsy film with a much stronger message than people were accustomed to hearing. And even today the film stands strong as a testament to the persuasive power of the movies.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Frank Borzage

Director

Margaret Sullavan

Freya Roth

James Stewart

Martin Breitner

Robert Young

Fritz Marberg

Frank Morgan

Prof. Viktor Roth

Robert Stack

Otto von Rohn

The White Cliffs of Dover

80%

58%

The White Cliffs of Dover

Watchlist

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

81%

87%

Goodbye, Mr. Chips

Watchlist

Men of Boys Town

40%

58%

Men of Boys Town

Watchlist

Anna Karenina

86%

70%

Anna Karenina

Watchlist

The Good Earth

95%

77%

The Good Earth

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

Professor Victor Roth (Frank Morgan) enjoys a tranquil life with his family in Germany. His daughter Freya (Margaret Sullavan) is courted both by Martin (James Stewart) and Fritz (Robert Young). However, when the Nazis take control of the country, all their lives are shaken. Martin must flee to Austria because of his political stance. Victor loses his job and is sent to a concentration camp when he speaks out against Hitler. Meanwhile, Fritz joins the Nazis and is obliged to hunt down Freya.

Director: Frank Borzage
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2021
Runtime: 1h 40m