The drama "The Mortal Storm", directed by Frank Borzage, featured Sullavan and Stewart as lovers caught in turmoil upon Hitler's rise to power. It was one of the first blatantly anti-Nazi films to be produced in Hollywood, but according to film scholar Ben Urwand, "ultimately made very little impact" as it did not show the persecution experienced by Jews or name that ethnic group. Despite being well received by critics, it failed at the box office. Ten days after filming "The Mortal Storm", Stewart began filming "No Time for Comedy" (1940) with Rosalind Russell. Critics complimented Stewart's performance; Bosley Crowther of "The New York Times" called Stewart "the best thing in the show," yet the film was again not a box-office success.