Fritz Bauer Institut · Cinematography of the Holocaust


Journey for Margaret. D: Van Dyke [US, 1942]

ID

FBW001203      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1942

Original Title

Journey for Margaret

Directed by

W. S. Van Dyke

Produced by

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM) (Loew's, Inc.), Culver City, CA (New York, NY)

Staff

Producer: B.P. Fineman; Script: David Hertz, William Ludwig; Based on: William L. White (based on the book "Journey to Margaret"); Camera: Ray June; Editing: George White; Production design: Cedric Gibbons, Wade B. Rubottom; Set decoration: Edwin B. Willis, Richard Pefferle; Costumes: Robert Kalloch; Music: Frank Waxman

Cast

Robert Young (John Davis); Laraine Day (Nora Davis); Fay Bainter (Trudy Strauss); Signe Hasso (Anya); Margaret O'Brien (Margaret); Nigel Bruce (Herbert V. Allison); William Severn (Peter Humphreys); G.P. Huntley, Jr. (Rugged); Doris Lloyd (Mrs. Barrie); Halliwell Hobbes (Mr. Barrie); Jill Esmond (Susan Fleming); Charles Irwin (Fairoaks); Elisabeth Risdon (Mrs. Bailey); Lisa Golm (Frau Weber); Herbert Evans (Man); Clare Sandars (Child); Leyland Hodgson (Censor); Anita Sharp Bolster (Woman); Matthew Boulton (Warden); Lilyan Irene (Nurse); Olaf Hytten (Manager); Ottola Nesmith (Nurse); John Burton (Nurse); Colin Kenny (Steward); Jimmy Aubrey (Porter); Heather Thatcher (Mrs. Harris); Joan Kemp (Isabel); Norbert Muller (Hans); Al Ferguson (Policeman); Bea Nigro (Nora's Mother); Cyril Delevanti (Stage Manager); Jody Gilbert (Mme. Bornholm); Crauford Kent (Everton); Keye Luke ( Japanese Statesman); David Thursby (Air Raid Warden); Henry Guttman (Polish Captain); Doris Stone (Mother); Eric Snowden (Porter); Clive Morgan (Father); Hal Welling (Tailor); Gay Bennes (Screaming Girl)

Length

2219 m / 81'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

The story of John and Nora Davis, two Americans in London during the Blitz. Nora is awaiting her first child while John plies his trade as a journalist covering the war, before the US officially enters the fracas. John is in the midst of an air raid when he meets Peter Humphreys and takes him to a home for orphan waifs. Nora is hurt in the air raid and loses their unborn child and must be taken to a hospital. She returns to the US and John remains in London to finish his work, promising her that he will return as soon as he can. He visits Humphreys and meets Margaret, his sister, a child who seems to be afraid of everything. John takes the two children under his wing and begins to act as their surrogate father. Later, he contacts Nora and says that he wants to bring the two children back to the States with him and adopt them both. Nora is all for it and the trip is joyfully planned. On the brink of leaving England, John learns that he is forbidden to take both children on the plane as space and weight are at a premium and he must jettison 40 pounds of baggage. It all works out when another passenger takes one of the children with her and they arrive in the US where Nora is waiting to welcome them with open arms.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US)

Bibliography

- , in: Motion Picture Herald (New York, NY), Vol. 149, Nr. 5, 31.10.1942
- , in: Today's Cinema, Vol. 60, Nr. 4824, 08.01.1943
- , in: Kinematograph Weekly (London), Nr. 1865, 14.01.1943
- , in: Picturegoer, Vol. 12, Nr. 577, 03.04.1943
- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987