I must admit that I knew only the basics of this story before watching the film.
I found it a powerful and well crafted film. It managed to capture not only the awful conditions that these two families had to live in but the tensions and fear as well.
I found myself holding my breath with the cast as the burglar moves around downstairs, or when the German Soilders are searching the house. All the time thinking get rid of that bloody cat it will be your downfall, as it proves to be in the end.
The acting wasn't bad, Shelly Winters was good as Mrs Van Daan and Ed Wynn, who I had only seen in Mary Poppins up to this moment was suitably annoying. Millie Perkins as Anne did a good job, though I am sorry to say I found her a little irritating, but she was playing a 13 year old girl and they are a bit. For me though it was Joseph Schildkraut who held the whole thing together, from the moment he comes back to the attic having been the only member of his family to survive, throughout the 25 months in hiding and finally at the end when he talks about their deaths, he is both subtle, moving and very honest in his portrayal of this man. A fine actor.
I have found this very moving and would imagine that it also worked very well in the theatre, where it was first seen.
I found it a powerful and well crafted film. It managed to capture not only the awful conditions that these two families had to live in but the tensions and fear as well.
I found myself holding my breath with the cast as the burglar moves around downstairs, or when the German Soilders are searching the house. All the time thinking get rid of that bloody cat it will be your downfall, as it proves to be in the end.
The acting wasn't bad, Shelly Winters was good as Mrs Van Daan and Ed Wynn, who I had only seen in Mary Poppins up to this moment was suitably annoying. Millie Perkins as Anne did a good job, though I am sorry to say I found her a little irritating, but she was playing a 13 year old girl and they are a bit. For me though it was Joseph Schildkraut who held the whole thing together, from the moment he comes back to the attic having been the only member of his family to survive, throughout the 25 months in hiding and finally at the end when he talks about their deaths, he is both subtle, moving and very honest in his portrayal of this man. A fine actor.
I have found this very moving and would imagine that it also worked very well in the theatre, where it was first seen.