{"id":41218,"date":"2018-10-20T21:29:24","date_gmt":"2018-10-21T04:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41218"},"modified":"2020-11-27T23:30:24","modified_gmt":"2020-11-28T06:30:24","slug":"north-star-the-1943","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41218","title":{"rendered":"North Star, The (1943)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;We&#8217;re the younger generation, and the future of our nation!&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster-198x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"198\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-41219\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster-198x300.png 198w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster-768x1164.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster-676x1024.png 676w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Poster.png 857w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 198px) 100vw, 198px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nUkrainian villagers &#8212; including high school graduate Marina (Anne Baxter), her college-bound fiance Damian (Farley Granger), her best friend Clavdia (Jane Withers), Clavdia&#8217;s brother (Eric Roberts), and Damian&#8217;s older brother (Dana Andrews) &#8212; must deal with the sudden invasion of Nazi soldiers in their nation, including heinous crimes against children led by Dr. von Harden (Erich von Stroheim).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anne Baxter Films<\/li>\n<li>Dana Andrews Films<\/li>\n<li>Erich von Stroheim Films<\/li>\n<li>Farley Granger Films<\/li>\n<li>Lewis Milestone Films<\/li>\n<li>Walter Huston Films<\/li>\n<li>World War II Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis Oscar-nominated Hollywood production &#8212; featuring Lewis Milestone as director, Lillian Hellman as screenwriter, Aaron Copland as composer, James Wong Howe as ciematographer, William Cameron Menzies as producer, and a bevy of major stars &#8212; remains a most curious wartime entry, made during the <a href=\"https:\/\/history.state.gov\/milestones\/1937-1945\/us-soviet\">1941-1945 U.S.-Soviet alliance<\/a> when some were keen to tell the Soviets&#8217; tale of patriotic resistance against the Nazis. Interestingly, the directorial style &#8212; especially during the surreal first third, which is designed like a sound-stage operetta &#8212; bears much in common with early Soviet cinema, yet with the added cognitive dissonance of seeing well-known American stars populating the screen. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55424\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Romance-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is unfortunately very little to commend during these opening scenes, which are set up simply as a starkly idyllic, drawn-out counterpoint to the hell that&#8217;s about to descend, complete with corny musical interludes. There&#8217;s a hinted-at romantic triangle established between Baxter, Granger, and Andrews &#8212; which later turns into an opportunity for Granger to show his worthiness as more than &#8220;simply&#8221; a university student &#8212; and for Withers (oh-so-poorly miscast) to be dumped upon as a fat (?) and pathetically lovestruck young woman who is also eventually given a chance to show her mettle. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Withers-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Once fighter planes ruthlessly bomb civilians on a road &#8212; a Nazi pilot grins with evil glee &#8212; the film becomes almost shockingly brutal, including sequences taking place under the supervision of von Stroheim&#8217;s calmly evil doctor. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-55423\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-von-Stroheim-360x270.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Will the villagers prevail? Wait for Anne Baxter&#8217;s final speech to find out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> The history behind this film&#8217;s production, release, reception, and subsequent Red-sanitized re-release under a different name (<em>Armored Attack<\/em>) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tcm.com\/this-month\/article\/276075%7C0\/The-North-Star.html\">is well worth reading about<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>James Wong Howe&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Cinematography.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Cinematography.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Cinematography-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Cinematography-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Skilled camera direction<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Direction.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Direction.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Direction.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Direction-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Direction-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Shockingly realistic scenes of wartime brutality<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Mother.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Mother.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-41221\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Mother.png 480w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Mother-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/North-Star-Mother-300x225.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though I suppose it&#8217;s worth a look as a historical curiosity. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0036217\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s4541star.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/85227\/the-north-star#articles-reviews?articleId=276075\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/64852\/armored-attack-north-star-blu-ray-1943\/\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1943\/11\/05\/archives\/the-north-star-invasion-drama-with-walter-huston-opens-in-two.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;We&#8217;re the younger generation, and the future of our nation!&#8221; Synopsis: Ukrainian villagers &#8212; including high school graduate Marina (Anne Baxter), her college-bound fiance Damian (Farley Granger), her best friend Clavdia (Jane Withers), Clavdia&#8217;s brother (Eric Roberts), and Damian&#8217;s older brother (Dana Andrews) &#8212; must deal with the sudden invasion of Nazi soldiers in their nation, including heinous crimes against children led by Dr. von Harden (Erich von Stroheim). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Anne Baxter Films Dana Andrews Films&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=41218\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41218"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":55425,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41218\/revisions\/55425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=41218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=41218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}