Hangmen Also Die Review

Overall 3.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

GeorgeChabot
Conyers, GA

WWII Drama showing Czech Resistance: Hangmen Also Die!

Movie guru, Film noir guru, fan of clever plots, cult film connoisseur

Pros

Cinematography, Supporting cast, Story

Cons

Fictionalization, Brian Donlevy as lead

NOV

2008

Hangmen Also Die! (1943)

This seldom seen movie is brought to us by Kino Video, a public domain publisher who brings good quality pressings of old black and white movies.

A part of their Film Noir collection, Hangmen Also Die! tells the story of the assassination of Reichsprotektor Reinhard Heydrich, the Butcher of Prague, also called The Hangman, as the title indicates.

Heydrich was one of Adolf Hitler's top followers who was known for his excessive brutality. Hitler had appointed Heydrich in 1941 to govern Bohemia and Moravia, the parts of Czechoslovakia that had been annexed by Nazi Germany in 1939. Heydrich was so well thought of that Hitler considered him a likely successor and Heydrich helped plan the extermination camps advanced as Hitler's final solution.

Fritz Lang directed the movie and as an expatriate German and ardent anti-Nazi he made a good attempt at the project but was saddled with a fictionalized story of the assassination and a supporting actor, Brian Donlevy, as his leading man.

The movie shows a Czech doctor (Donlevy) acting as lone assassin during the daylight attempt. The actual assassination had been performed by a pair of Czechs parachuted in by the British. Donlevy's escape plan miscarries and he must improvise going to the nearby house of a pretty girl (Anna Lee) he had once met. Her father (Walter Brennan) was a college professor and secret political leader of the Czech Underground. They keep Donlevy over night because the curfew is on and he would be arrested. The film goes on to show the brutal methods of the Nazis who arrest many Czechs and begin executing them in retaliation.

The movie does show the bravery of the Czech people who are thrown together by this assassination and otherwise do not know each other, yet defend the assassin by misinforming the Germans or refusing to talk. The movie does show this admirable quality and undoubtedly stimulated many patriotic feelings when it was released in 1943.

The movie does run a long 134 minutes and the length works against it, especially when you know it is fictional. Why they couldn't show the true story is a mystery but the movie does stay a bit longer than it is welcome. James Wong Howe did the nice dark cinematography and some of the supporting cast did better than Donlevy. Gene Lockhart, plays a villain, against type and Anna Lee who is the large photo on the video case pictured.

Hangmen Also Die is recommended by GeorgeChabot

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Comments about GeorgeChabot’s Review

In response to GigiandAdonai's comment from Dec 21, 2008 at 1:23PM:

Thank you, Gigi, Merry Christmas! ;>

Yet another intriguing review Mr. George! ~Gigi

In response to PattyTherre's comment from Nov 26, 2008 at 11:55PM:

Thank you Patty, and the same to you! ;>

Happy Thanksgiving Harley George! Another brilliant review.

In response to LaurieM's comment from Nov 26, 2008 at 1:14PM:

This is more famous for Fritz Lang fans. He did a few well known films. ;>

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 26, 2008 at 9:18AM:

Thanks, Anna. Brian Donlevy was good but he doesn't have a lot of leading man characteristics. He was mostly a heavy in his better roles. Here he was the "good guy."

I have to hunt for where to get something for Fifi and me. ;>

I have to admit that I never heard of this one!

This movie really sounds good, George, although as you say, the length probably works against it. I really love black and white films. Good old Brian Donlevy! Have a nice Thanksgiving, George, and I hope you and Fifi are going to have a little something extra tomorrow -- even if it is just a roast turkey dinner imported in from somewhere or maybe even some nice fast food. Take care!