Films on World War II took many faces, whether it be musical inspiration for the troops ("This is the Army", "Thousands Cheer", etc.),the struggles of those conquered by the Axis ("The Mortal Storm", "Edge of Darkness", etc.) or life on the home-front ("Mrs. Miniver", "Tender Comrade", "Since You Went Away"). As news of what was really going on was released to the public, Hollywood stepped up to the plate and began to make stronger movies like "Watch on the Rhine" and this horrific tale of the evil treatment of the Jews under the Nazi regime. Paul Lukas, fresh from his Oscar Winning role in "Watch on the Rhine" (playing a man fighting the Nazis),plays the opposite of that character as a German art dealer who returns from America and rejects his Jewish partner whose daughter has gone to Germany with an acting troop only to face what every other Jewish person fears. This is a moralistic tale of giving up one's values simply to survive and the destruction of the soul it causes.

Lukas is excellent as the conflicted man, while the Veronica Lake/Lizabeth Scott look-alike K.T. Stevens is outstanding in a tragic role. While the film credits "introduce" her, she was already featured (under the name Katherine) in the Barbara Stanwyck film "The Great Man's Lady" as the young woman who interviews her. She only made a handful of films, but later in her career, worked regularly on soap operas. She gives an award worthy performance, particularly in the scene where she breaks out of character on stage to respond to Lukas's interruption of her work on-stage. Outstanding photography and music are other elements that stand out, topping a screenplay not only topical to its time (and ours) but emotionally touching as well.

I say this movie is good but a bit late because this tale of the progression of Nazism in Germany is very good but the timing awfully late. When the first film debuted, WWII was practically over--whereas films with similar themes, such as "Mortal Storm" came out before the US entered the war--and did a lot to turn public opinion against Nazi Germany. Heck, in 1944 saying the Nazis were bad and repressive wasn't exactly controversial in the United States--as we'd been fighting them for three years!

The film begins in the 1930s. Paul Lukas and his wife and kids (minus the oldest one) are leaving the US and moving back to Germany. They also decide to take their god-daughter (who is Jewish). Once there, Lukas slowly turns from a nice family man to a Nazi-lover. In the process, all sense of right and wrong seems to disappear from him. And, when his beloved god-daughter is in trouble, he refuses to help. At this point, there is a neat twist in the film involving coded messages and revenge. I won't say more, as it would spoil the film. Suffice to say that this twist gives the film a nice and fitting ending.

The acting, mood and story are all quite good and the film worth seeing. While not a great film it is clever and well-written--and a very good propaganda film to galvanize the folks at home in the war effort.

For a brief period, by dint of the Oscar he won Paul Lukas became leading man material. In Watch On The Rhine he played an anti-Nazi fighter. In Address Unknown Lukas tries the other side of the fence, playing a man who is seduced by Nazi ideas and makes a Faustian bargain for expediency.

Lukas and Morris Carnovsky play partners in San Francisco with their art dealing business. Nursing a bit of nostalgia for Germany, the Wilhelmine Germany he grew up in Lukas moves back to Germany as he says it might be better business wise for him to acquire the art on the scene and for Carnovsky to sell it in America. With the exception of his oldest son Peter Van Eyck who stays with Carnovsky, Lukas moves wife Mady Christians and his children back to Germany post World War I. Later on Carnovsky's daughter K.T. Stevens goes to Europe to pursue her acting career. Carnovsky is also Jewish.

Which is not looked kindly on by people who are rising in power. But Lukas who probably was not all that political is seduced by all the promises the Nazis and their leader. He gradually loses his entire moral compass. In that he was far from alone. K.T. Stevens is the one who loses her life tragically.

Lukas and Carnovsky are an interesting story of old friends torn apart. Carnovsky registers well as a man who cannot believe his old friend has turned on their past friendship and what it meant for business and personal reasons. Carnovsky cannot comprehend what is happening in the old homeland. In that he wasn't alone, those targeted by the Nazis including Jews couldn't quite believe it either. Remember Address Unknown was made before the concentration camps were liberated, but rumors were growing stronger by the day about what was happening.

As for Lukas he's brilliant with what he does as a man who loses it all. The ending is a truly original piece of vengeance and betrayal of Lukas, fitting payback for all he betrayed.

Address Unknown got two Oscar nominations for Art&Set Design and for music score. With William Cameron Menzies directing I'm sure he had a big hand in creating the set that got said nomination. But with what he does with Lukas and Carnovsky, Menzies shows how well he can direct people too.

One of the better films to come out of the World War II era it holds up brilliantly for today.