This Land is Mine (1943)

This Land is Mine is dismissed by some as a mere wartime propaganda film, and this is unfortunate. It's true that Land is a message picture and that it perhaps veers a little into proselytizing in order to make its points. But if that message supports the Allied efforts during the war, it's still a fairly unusual message -- namely that individuals have the responsibility to stand up to tyranny on their own, which was an implicit condemnation of French acquiescence in the Occupation. Land also provides plenty of shades of grade in its portraits of its cast of characters. Unfortunately, it also gets a bit talky and preachy in places, and stretches believability in others -- none moreso than in its climactic scene. Lory's speech is effective and powerful, but there's absolutely no way that the Nazi occupiers would have allowed a person the latitude to make such a speech. These flaws aside, Land has a lot to recommend it, from Jean Renoir's assured and often masterful direction to Charles Laughton's impressive performance to nice supporting turns from Walter Slezak and Maureen O'Hara. George Sanders, unfortunately, doesn't share in the accolades, delivering a wan and dispirited performance. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide