Cinema's Exiles: From Hitler to Hollywood

About The Film

From the time Adolf Hitler became Germany’s chancellor in 1933 to the opening salvos of World War II in 1939, about 800 directors, actors, writers, composers and producers fled Europe for the safety of America. The Third Reich’s loss was Hollywood’s gain, as the infusion of artistic talent changed moviemaking for decades to come. CINEMA’S EXILES: FROM HITLER TO HOLLYWOOD traces the experiences of the Jewish émigrés who took refuge in Hollywood with various degrees of comfort and success, and examines their impact on both German and American cinema. This PBS-produced documentary includes rare behind-the-scenes footage, extensive film clips, eyewitness accounts, home movies and photographs. Interviews include screen actress Lupita Kohner, Billy Wilder, Fritz Lang and Fred Zinnemann. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver.