SYNOPSIS: Russians invade Austria and occupy a Jewish border town. The leader of the Russian garrison is smitten by the Rabbi's daughter. So he threatens to burn the whole town to the ground and incinerate everyone in the town alive unless she allows him to sleep with her. Everyone in the town, except her father, the Rabbi, begs her to accede. She declines, but when the Russian commander starts to carry out his threat, she decides she has no option but to do so. She makes her way to the commander's headquarters and enters his suite. But before the Russian commander can carry out his will, the Austrians attack in force and the Russians are forced to flee. The rescued Jewish townspeople then turn on the Rabbi's daughter for heeding their pleas and attempt to stone her to death. The Rabbi tries to stop them. So the Jewish townspeople kill him instead.
COMMENT: A movie of prodigious length – well over two hours at correct speed – Surrender is fortunately now available in its original, all-tinted Kodascope version in a beautiful DVD from Grapevine Video. An exception to Kodak's usual procedure, the movie was cut down to 6 reels instead of the customary five. At this length, it's most watchable. But there's no wonder it failed at the box office. The anti-Jewish story would not exactly sit well with just about everyone engaged in the movie industry and one wonders how Carl Laemmle and his many Jewish executives at Universal (including producer Paul Kohner) decided to resurrect Brody's obscure old play in the first place. Presumably they were grasping at straws to find a suitable vehicle for top-rated Russian import, Ivan Mosjoukine. As for the acting, just about all critics and viewers agree that Mary Philbin was rotten and everyone else did a creditable job. I disagree. I thought Mary Philbin was superb and underplayed her role most effectively, while everyone else – including most particularly the celebrated Ivan Mosjoukine – chewed up the scenery.
COMMENT: A movie of prodigious length – well over two hours at correct speed – Surrender is fortunately now available in its original, all-tinted Kodascope version in a beautiful DVD from Grapevine Video. An exception to Kodak's usual procedure, the movie was cut down to 6 reels instead of the customary five. At this length, it's most watchable. But there's no wonder it failed at the box office. The anti-Jewish story would not exactly sit well with just about everyone engaged in the movie industry and one wonders how Carl Laemmle and his many Jewish executives at Universal (including producer Paul Kohner) decided to resurrect Brody's obscure old play in the first place. Presumably they were grasping at straws to find a suitable vehicle for top-rated Russian import, Ivan Mosjoukine. As for the acting, just about all critics and viewers agree that Mary Philbin was rotten and everyone else did a creditable job. I disagree. I thought Mary Philbin was superb and underplayed her role most effectively, while everyone else – including most particularly the celebrated Ivan Mosjoukine – chewed up the scenery.