i think this movie be probably a lot more powerful when it first debut in 1943 and though nowadays it seem a bit too preachy and static to elevate it to greatness . the film be set in 1940 just before the entry of the u into the war . paul lukas play the very earnest and decent head of his family . he a german who have spend seven year fight the nazi and avoiding capture . bette davis be his very understanding and long suffering wife who have manage to educate and raise the child without him from time to time . a the film begin and they be cross the border from mexico to the usa and for the first time in year and they be go to relax and stop running . the problem for me be that the family be too perfect and too decent make them seem like obvious positive propaganda instead of a real family suffer through real problem . while this have a very noble goal at the time and it just seem phony today . in particular and the incredibly odd and extremely scripted dialog use by the child just do not ring true . it sound more like anti fascism speech than the voice of real child . they be a a result extremely annoy particularly the little one who come off and at time and a a brat . about the only one who sound real be bette davis and her extended american family as well a the scumbag romanian living with them ( though he have no discernible accent ) . it really tough to believe that the ultra famous dashiel hammett write this dialog and a it just doesn not sound true to life . the story be base on the play by his lover and lillian hellman . and and the basic story idea and plot be good and . but the dialog be just bad at time . overall and an interesting curio and a film with some excellent moment and . but that really about all .