ID

FBW001371      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1943

Original Title

This Land Is Mine

Directed by

Jean Renoir

Produced by

RKO (Radio Keith Orpheum) Radio Pictures, Inc., Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Producer: Jean Renoir, Dudley Nichols; Artistic supervision: Albert S. D'Agostino, Walter E. Keller; Script: Dudley Nichols; Camera: Frank Redman; Editing: Frederick Knudtson; Art direction: Darrell Silvera; Production design: Eugene Lourie; Set decoration: A. Roland Fields; Special Effects: Vernon L. Walker; Costumes: Renie; Music: Constantin Bakaleinikoff; Musical arrangements: Lothar Perl

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 F. Simpson (Judge); John Donat (Edmund Lorraine); Frank Alten (Lt. Schwartz); Leo Bulgakov (Little Man); Wheaton Chambers (Mr. Lorraine); Cecil Weston (Mrs. Lorraine); Ludwig Donath (German Captain); Lillian O'Malley (Woman in Street); Gordon Clark (Lieutenant); Hans Moebus (German Chauffeur); Jack Martin (German Captain); Gabriel Lenoff; Philip Ahlm (German Lieutenant); Albert D'Arno; Rolf Myzet; Lester Sharpe; Sven-Hugo Borg; Nicholas Vehr; Russell Hoyt; Walter Thiele (German Soldier); Louis Arno; Bob Stevenson; Hans Schumm; John Banner; George Sorel (German Sergeants); Ferdinand Schumann-Heink (Karl); Gus Taillon (Newsman); William Yetter, Sr. (Otto); Edward McNamara (Policeman); Otto Hoffman (Printer); Hans von Morhart (Soldier Who Gets Slapped); John H. Dilson (Mayor's Secretary); Ernest Grooney (Priest); George MacQuarrie (Chief of Police); Tommy Bond (Julian); John Rice; Jack Sheah (Burly Cop); Ida Shoemaker (Woman in Street); Oscar Lorraine (Clerk); Joan Barclay (Young Woman); Mildred Hardy; Margaret Fealy (Old Women); Linda Ann Bieber (Emily); Lloyd Ingraham (Paper Man in Street); Terrellyne Johnson (Girl); Hallene Hall (Woman at Window); Mary Stuart (Photo Double); Casey Johnson (Boy); George Carleton (Jury Foreman); Hal Malone (Bit in Courtroom); Henry Roquemore (Butcher)

Length

103'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

Arthur Lory is a cowardly schoolteacher who keeps a low profile. Aware of his own cowardice, Arthur Lory turns to fellow schoolteacher Louise Martin, who understands his fears, but who is also sympathetic to the cause of the Resistance. When her brother, Paul Martin, bombs a German officer's car, Louise Martin is forced to lie for Martin, as is Arthur Lory, who is inadvertently involved in the questioning. Despite his efforts to remain neutral, Lory finds himself increasingly sympathetic to the Resistance movement. Lory becomes a German "hostage," facing imminent execution if no one confesses to the car bombing. To save her son, Mrs. Emma Lory informs on Martin to Lambert, who is a collaborator. Lambert passes this information on, but is guilt-stricken and tries to warn Martin. But he is gunned down by German soldiers. The following day Arthur Lory is released, unaware of what has happened. He pays a visit to Louise Martin who is filled with hatred for him, and only then does Arthur Lory realize what the price was for his freedom. He marches off to George Lambert's office, but he finds the informer dead, a suicide victim. When Arthur Lory innocently picks up the gun Lambert has used, he implicates himself as the murderer, and the prosecution approaches the trial that follows as an open-and-shut case of cold-blooded murder. Finally allowed to address the court, Arthur Lory not only condemns Lambert for being a collaborator, but he also berates the mayor and the entire Vichy judicial system. The court adjourns and Arthur Lory is returned to his cell, where he is visited by German commandant Maj. Erich von Keller who guarantees Lory his freedom by promising that a suicide note penned by George Lambert will turn up, thereby proving that no murder was committed. In exchange, Arthur Lory is to quietly live out his days as a schoolteacher, supporting the Vichy government. Lory agrees to the terms, but the following day in court he continues his speech, explaining that French patriots are being killed and that everyone who supports the Vichy government is responsible for these deaths. He also makes one final proclamation--that he is in love with Louise Martin. The following day, while in his classroom reading to his students from "A Declaration of the Rights of Man," Arthur Lory is hauled away by German soldiers to be executed.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US)

Bibliography

- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987