Classic Film Guide

Escape (1940)

This is actually a very good film with Robert Taylor as an American who is trying to free his mother (Alla Nazimova) from a concentration camp with the help of a German officer's (Conrad Veidt) mistress, played by Norma Shearer. Nazimova plays a German actress who had been living in the United States. When she returns to her native country to sell her home, she is held for treason by the fascists now in charge. Taylor comes to "rescue" his mom and meets Shearer, a fellow American. But, as a kept woman of Veidt's, Shearer's character would prefer to remain uninvolved until Taylor helps her to see the light. Albert Bassermann, Felix Bressart, and Bonita Granville (among others) also appear. Directed (and produced) by Irving G. Thalberg winner Mervyn LeRoy (The Wizard of Oz (1939) & Random Harvest (1942)).

Like The Mortal Storm (1940), which was released less than 5 months earlier, Escape (1940) marks one of Hollywood's early forays in producing a film critical of the fascism that was sweeping Europe. In fact, its author used a pen name to protect her relatives living in Europe for their safety, according to imdb.com. Don't miss this somewhat undiscovered gem if you get the chance to see it!

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