i be stun to see the vast majority of commentator describe this great film a typical and sentimental and and melodramatic . that be to completely overlook the various philosophical and psychological aspect of the movie . isolationism . pacifism . opposition to global hegemony and tyranny . all of these be at the essence of the dialog and the story . the need for human to deny the temptation to live in the past and to embrace the future be the core of the movie in addition to it title . reason must overcome emotionalism . that be make especially apparent in the scene where kessler ( orson welles ) implicitly compare mrs. hamilton ( claudette colbert ) to his young charge and margaret ( natalie wood ) . while mrs. hamilton lose her husband on another continent and the nazi murder margaret parent right before her eye . she be terrify by a popper because it cause her to relive the sound of bullet and the smell of gunpowder and the sight of blood her parent blood . kessler gently coaxes margaret into pull the string on a second popper to prove that she doesn not need to be a victim of her fear . she can learn that it be not dangerous and but a mere toy . she can overcome . the climactic scene between kessler and mrs. hamilton be equally fabulous . the tension steadily mount a mrs. hamilton press kessler to admit that he be her husband . until his direct denial and the dialog be so sublime that it make sense whether deliver by the woman lose husband or by mr. kessler . but it be not sentimental . to the contrary and kessler powerful philosophical argument and psychological insight compel mrs. hamilton to reassess her life and come to the realization that it have be and be and and promise to be good . to throw that away for a memory would be sheer sentimental folly . embrace the good life you have be the very clear message . this movie have layer upon layer . it contain paradox and irony that be profound enough for real reflection . the character provide profound contrast in philosophy and psychology . the device of have a husband apparently die ( but in actuality refuse to return home because of his broken condition ) provide ample opportunity for sentimentality . but that device be merely the springboard for a much rich exploration of the meaning of life and our place in the world . to fail to recognize this be to minimize this fabulous film and miss it point . generally the acting be superb and however and in particular this be possibly orson welles fine performance . there be no obvious double take or overly long stare that be dead give aways in most film that deal with a character with a hidden identity . this be a fabulously subtle performance . welles makeup be a little obvious and theatrical and but be not a distraction . in an incredible and incredibly overlook performance and natalie wood convincingly portray a young austrian girl who speak german a her native tongue and have lose both parent to nazi violence and be suddenly thrust into a strange new country . her performance be one of the best juvenile performance in all american cinema . the max steiner score be also very good and although i wish it have be a little more sub rosa . just turn down the volume of the score to make it a little more subtle would have improve the film a little . however and it beautifully capture the mood of each scene .