Exiles in Hollywood
European cinematic talents found a new home in California, and thanks to Warner Brothers, made one of the best films in movie history.
[The Book of Unusual Knowledge]
Fans of classic American cinema might be surprised to learn that many of their favorite films from the 1930s and '40s benefited from a wave of immigration sparked by the rise of Nazis in Europe. Leading lights from the period -- including Peter Lorre, Marlene Dietrich, Billy Wilder, Otto Preminger, and Fritz Lang -- came to Hollywood not only to apply their craft but also to escape Nazi Europe. Many had been lured to California in the '20s by the wealth and technical sophistication of the Hollywood system. After the rise of the Nazis, however, some of those who had previously worked in the European film industry saw safety as well as employment in Hollywood.
SEARCHING FOR A SAFE HAVEN
In 1938 Anschluss, in which Germany annexed Austria, convinced many Europeans that Nazism would not be averted. Then in March, 70,000 Austrians, including many prominent members of Vienna's cinematic community, were arrested because of their political beliefs or ethnicity. Following the 1938 Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass," during which Nazis destroyed Jewish property and sent as many as 30,000 to prison camps, the fervor to find a safe haven abroad increased. Sadly, the world had not yet recognized the truth threat of Nazi Germany, and no country, including of the United States, was ready to welcome the flood of Jewish immigrants. Hollywood was no different, and most members of Tinseltown's artistic community saw the refugees as unwelcome competition.
Proving that money trumped morality, nearly all of the Hollywood studios continued dealings with the Nazi regime until the start of World War II. In many cases, studios altered films that might offend the Nazis rather than risk losing the valuable German and Austrian markets. The one exception, Warner Brothers, was headed by the firmly anti-Nazi brothers Harry and Jack Warner (right), whose family had left Germany at the turn of the century. In 1939, studio released the controversial film Confessions of a Nazi Spy, which starred Edward G. Robinson and was allegedly based on the accounts of former FBI agent Leon G. Turrou, who had investigated Nazi spies in the United States. As a result, studio head Jack Warner, production producer Robert Lord, and many members of the cast and crew received death threats from Fascist organizations operating in the United States.
A CINEMATIC CLASSIC IS BORN
All the scores of intellectuals and artists who fled Nazi Europe abandoned their artistic talents during their exile in the United States, others prospered and, through their efforts, changed the course of American cinema. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the classic Warner Brothers film Casablanca (1942). Although much of the film's story line and setting are fictional (for example, there weren't any Nazis in Casablanca during World War II), the romanticized story of Europeans seeking refuge in America featured a cast and crew largely comprised of refugees from Hitler's Europe. In fact, 11 of the 14 names that appear in the film's opening credits are European.
The film's director, Michael Curtiz, had left his native Hungary before the rise of Hitler, and his sensibilities were still deeply rooted in the Viennese cinema where he first made his mark. Technical adviser Robert Eisner had fled France using the same route outlined in the films opening narration. A few of the film's stars --Conrad Veidt (on the left), Peter Lorre, and Paul Heinred --as well as many of the bit players had also fled the Nazis. Veidt, who played the villainous Nazi Major Strasser, was a German refugee who had already garnered critical attention by playing menacing Nazis in other films. Indeed, the vehemently anti-Nazi Veidt reportedly agreed to play Nazi characters only if they were thoroughly detestable.
SUPPORTING CAST
The Hungarian Lorre, who played the short-lived Ugarte in the film, was a refugee from Austria and had starred in fellow refugee Fritz Lang's M, which had been filmed while both were still in Germany. After narrowly escaping occupied France, Lorre moved to Hollywood where he and Humphrey Bogart became friends and worked together on The Maltese Falcon (1941) before being cast in Casablanca. Austrian born Paul Henreid, who played the French resistant leader Victor Laszlo, was a real- life refugee from the Nazis and was extremely critical of the film's numerous plot flaws (for example why would a man who wanted to remain unnoticed strut around in an all white suit?).
Other refugees from Hitler's Europe who acted in Casablanca include Curtis Bois, who played a pickpocket; Marcel Dalio, cast as a croupier; Helmet Dantine, who played a desperate husband trying to win enough money to purchase freedom for himself and his refugee wife; and S.Z. "Cuddles" Sakal, who played the lovably loose-jowled head waiter, Carl. The contributions of these actors and numerous extras, technicians, and crew of European extraction lent Casablanca a credibility that has made it one of the most beloved films in movie history.
PS. In 1933, German director Fritz Lang was summoned to the office of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Gables, who said that Hitler wanted him to be Germany's official film director. Lang agreed to Gable's proposal. As soon as he left, Lang prepared to hastily leave the country.
"Thanks For Your Time"
The telephone rang. It was a call from his mother. He answered it and his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is on Wednesday."
Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him, he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important. Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered.
Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture...Jack stopped suddenly...
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said.
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said.
"I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack went to the post office and retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filled his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -- Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was my time!"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. *
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with the people I love and say I care for," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100 percent true.
1. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
2. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
3. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
4. You mean the world to someone.
5. If not for you, someone may not be living.
6. You are special and unique.
7. Have trust sooner or later you will get what you wish for or something better.
8. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
9. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a hard look: you most likely turn your back on the world and the people who love and care for you.
10. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
11. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks.
12. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
13. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
To everyone who is reading this just now....
*"Thanks for your time."*
