Movie Info:
Writers: Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett
Director: George Stevens
Cast: Millie Perkins, Joseph Schildkraut, Shelley Winters, Richard Beymer, Gusti Huber, Lou Jacobi, Diane Baker, Douglas Spencer, Ed Wynn, Dodie Heath
Rating: N/a
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: August 26, 1959
DVD Release Date: June 16, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $21.99
It seems that many young people today do not respect the classic films of yesterday like they once did. While pop culture and entertainment media would be nothing without it’s roots; the roots of movies and celebrities of the 30s and before, it seems as if some can dismiss these roots as if they had little to do with today. The funny thing in that is that many of the movies that were hailed as being fantastic and industry changing are being re-made now. Thankfully, The Diary of Anne Frank is not one of those movies. Of course, it’s seen its remake before, a long while ago, and hopefully it does not see it again. In any case, this version, the original film directed by George Stevens and starring the magnificent Millie Perkins, is the one that you want to see.
Prior to Perkins being chosen, the job was offered to a few other women including Natalie Wood and Otto Frank’s personal first choice, Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn was Anne Frank’s age and lived through the war in the Netherlands. Still, she chose to turn down the role because she felt she was too old to play a teenager and she couldn’t imagine having to relive the war in such a way. Despite not being the first choice for the role, Perkins ended up showing everyone that she had just what it took to offer an emotional and thought-provoking performance.
I have to imagine that it was a labor of love creating a movie like this. Not only that, but on some level it had to be an incredibly emotional experience. Still, everyone involved in the production handled it to the best of their ability. In the end they had a movie that would win three Academy Awards, one of which was donated to the Anne Frank House (courtesy of Shelley Winters) and that was so effective it would change the lives of the actors and numerous people that watched this movie over the years.
It’s shocking to imagine that anyone hasn’t seen this movie at this point, but if you haven’t you need to see it. Buying or renting, doesn’t matter much as long as you choose an option and see it. While some liberties were taken, the movie is very similar to the Pulitzer Prize winning play and the book upon which the story was based. As a child I remember watching this and being so affected by it. It’s one of the few old movies I remember watching. It always made me cry. It also made me want to be a better person.
If you’re not a fan of Stevens, this movie will help to make you a fan. If you’ve never seen a Perkins movie, this will allow you to see what makes her a fabulous, standout performer. Of course, the entire cast makes you see that. They all work together so seamlessly. Part of this is likely because the film was shot in an enclosed space and it was filmed from beginning to end, in sequence.
The Diary of Anne Frank is a family, coming of age true-life drama that involves the loss of life long before death officially comes into play. It is a film about the injustices of war and intolerance, hatred, hope, surrender, fear, and love. Most of these things are portrayed through the writings of a young girl to her diary. It is a powerfully touching tale that deserves all of the attention it has received and more.
The The Diary of Anne Frank Plot
During WWII, German forces occupied much of Europe wiping cities and towns clean of Jews and other races, lifestyles, and disabilities that they deemed to be impure. Often they were herded up and taken to a Concentration Camp. A few families did everything they could to make sure that they survived this trying period. This often meant that they had to rely on friends or allies that were not Jewish to hide them and see that they had what they needed during their time in hiding. One of the families that hide during the war, in hopes of staying together and living through the war, was the Frank family.
Otto Frank (Joseph Schildkraut) takes his wife, Edith (Gusti Huber), and their daughters Margot (Diane Baker) and Anne (Perkins) to live in a hidden attic above the factory where Mr. Frank worked. They spread a story that they had to leave town in the middle of the night, but Mr. Frank’s secretary Miep (Dodie Heath) and one of the men that work at the plant, Mr. Kraler (Douglas Spencer) have taken on the task of taking care of them. As often as possible the two come up to the secret annex with food and news of what is going on in the world below.
While four people in a cramped space could seem hectic enough, the Frank’s could not bear to leave anyone to the fate that they tried to escape themselves. With them, in the beginning, are Mr Van Daan (Lou Jacobi), Mrs. Van Daan (Shelley Winters), and their son Peter (Richard Beymer). Later a single dentist, Mr. Dussell (Ed Wynn) joins them, as well.
The group is forced to be absolutely quiet during working hours because no one in the offices below knows that there is anyone upstairs. They can never know because it could mean the end of their lives. Anne fills the time writing in her diary that she received when she entered the annex. She writes about her friends and her hopes and dreams. She also writes about her frustrations and the pains of being young and trapped in a small space with so many people. It is endearing and powerful because it is obvious that throughout it all, she never loses hope. It always seems as if she believes that they will make it out at any time.
Anne believes with the optimistic heart of a young person that despite the flaws of humanity, all people have goodness within them. Her optimism shines through in this heart-wrenching tale of desperation and hope during a time of tragedy.
Storyline/Plot: 
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:
Audio/Visual:
If you have the 2004 release of The Diary of Anne Frank you might not notice any significant differences in the quality. This is because it appears to have been taken from the same remastered source. On the upside this 1080p transfer looks amazing considering the age of the film. If you do not own the 2004 version you are going to want to own this Blu-ray. Likewise, with the abundance of BD specific special features, you’re still going to want to own it.
As far as the black and white goes, there is little complaint. The image is much clearer than in other releases, the detail is high and the black levels offer a nice richness to them. There tends to be some small dirt smatterings throughout, but this is something that does not distract too much. In fact, you’d almost expect to see a few issues with a source this old. Despite a few dirt spots, this looks great.
The audio comes into play with a Dolby Digital HD MA 5.1 track. The Dolby Digital 4.0 track from the DVD is also included here. It is questionable whether or not this presentation needed this much power behind it. The dialogue is completely clear and the sound effects sound beautiful. Likewise, the score is next to none. Still, the surround sound is rarely tested and most things rest in the front channels. Normally this would be edging towards the bad side, but it works here.
The sound is so clear that you can hear the snow crunch under the passerby’s feet on the street below or the cat scurrying across the floor. The sound of the sirens in the distance and drawing closer is enough to make your heart flutter with worry and anticipation. Like the video, I was expecting less and got much more. Fox did a nice job with both the audio and video presentations.
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Audio:
Bonus Features:
At this point it is obvious that Anne Frank is going to be recommended. The bonus section is not going to change that. In fact, it’s only going to affirm the fact that you need to pick this up as soon as you have the time. This is one of the best bonus sections you will find for a classic movie. Fox continually manages to wow audiences with the amazing material they make as bonuses for their classic Blu-rays. In this instance you receive all of the special features from the last DVD release plus a ton of new bonuses that are Blu-ray exclusives. In short, even if you own the DVD you will want to go pick this up if you have a Blu-ray player. A list of all of the special features is included below. The list begins with the already released features and moves into the newer offerings.
Audio Commentary – George Stevens Jr (associate producer) and Millie Perkins offer a stellar audio commentary that is jam packed with information. Some hot topics include camera angles and close-ups, production facts, and why the film was shot from beginning to end. The struggle to allow the film to be in Black and White is also brought up. Perkins shines as she spends her time sharing funny on-set moments, talking about how Shelley Winters made the set come alive. The commentary is a wonderful treat for fans of the movie that want to know more about how things were done. The story of how Perkins got to share a dinner with Otto Frank is also a welcome addition. While the track is as long as the movie, it’s well worth listening to from beginning to end. I even recommend re-visiting this one from time to time.
“The Diary of Anne Frank: Echoes of the Past” – This 87 minute documentary is almost as amazing as the movie itself. Burt Reynolds handles the narration as he discusses the family history that occurred long before the film, as well as how the film came to be made. You learn about where the film got it right and what was inaccurate. You also discover more about each of the people in the attic, and the meaning of Anne’s belief in mankind. Mr. Frank is again brought up and it is mentioned that he could never manage to see the film or the play about his daughter’s diary and their life in the attic. Some chilling images of Dachau were also shot and are included in this documentary.
“Excerpt from George Stevens: A Filmmaker’s Journey” – This is just a short eight minute piece from the amazing documentary made about George Stevens. This documentary looks at Stevens and what he did behind the camera and in real life. Naturally, this particular sequence deals with his work on The Diary of Anne Frank. Clips and stills are used along with some interview footage.
“George Stevens Press Conference” – This is another short, five minute, featurette of an interview with Stevens. In it he talks about the search for an actress capable of playing Anne Frank. He states that his goal was to find a relatively unknown younger teenage girl for the role. Perkins, who eventually got the role, was 19, though thousands of other girls were looked at and considered.
“Millie Perkins Screen Test” – The screen test for Millie Perkins is one of the smaller features available here. It shows Perkins being asked some questions by someone off camera. They ask her about what she likes to do in her spare time among other things. It is interesting to see the differences in Perkins off-screen versus when she is portraying the far younger Frank.
“Fox Movietone News Clips” – Most of these clips deal with Perkins and her role as Anne Frank. Perkins is shown with the press, visiting an exhibit dealing with Anne Frank, and going to the premiere. The most interesting clip deals with a Belgian Priest that won the Nobel Peace Prize for bringing families back together after WWII.
Also included is a Behind the Scenes photo gallery that has over 80 pictures available for viewing. Most, if not all, are black and white shots that include Perkins and Frank, Stevens, and the concentration camps. Both the international and US trailer are included, as well. The rest of the bonuses are new and exclusive to Blu-ray.
“George Stevens in WWII” – The most amazing part of this eight minute featurette is the footage of the actual war that was shot by Stevens. Understanding the war from a firsthand perspective and being around to see the liberation of a concentration camp (Dachau) caused Stevens to eventually want to step up and make this movie. Stevens’ son is also on hand to share memories. The featurette, while short, is well worth checking out.
“The Making of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’: A Son’s Memories” – Clocking in at nearly 30 minutes this one is for Stevens Jr. You have a chance to see a collection of photo stills and clips that go with his memories of the film and how his father did things. He also speaks about handling the Amsterdam unit and how his father trusted him to do a good job.
“The Diary of Anne Frank: Memories from Millie Perkins and Diane Baker” – This is by far one of my favorite featurettes that have been included. Perkins and Baker are on hand to discuss how this movie shaped and changed their lives. They talk about casting, share experiences that they had with Mr. Frank, and discuss what life was like on the set. It’s a very moving segment.
“Shelley Winters and The Diary of Anne Frank – Clocking in at around seven minute, this looks at an interview that happened in the 80s when Stevens’ documentary was being made. Winters discusses her personal feelings for Stevens and how he got everyone in the right frame of mind for shooting. She also talks about donating her Academy Award to the Anne Frank House.
“The Sound and Music of The Diary of Anne Frank” – David and Thomas Newman discuss their father’s soundtrack and contribution to Anne Frank in this eight minute featurette. Both sons have a lot of good things to say about their father and the work that he did here.
“The Diary of Anne Frank: Correspondence” – Stevens Jr is available to read some of the letters between Otto Frank and George Stevens that occurred during the filming. They also talk about The Diary of a Young Girl as both of them worked together on that, as well. As usual, this is an interesting feature that fans should enjoy quite a bit.
“Fox Movie Channel Presents Fox Legacy with Tom Rothman” – This is a promo piece that is done for many of the Fox Classic movies. This is probably the one needless feature in the bunch. You won’t learn anything that you haven’t already heard. Furthermore, the manner in which the facts are told are not nearly as entertaining as in other features.
The final feature is an Interactive Pressboook Gallery that includes various ads for the film along with articles dealing with the actors or the film.
Bonus Features:
Bottom Line:
The Diary of Anne Frank is incredibly sad, but it’s still a classic that deserves to be watched and re-watched over the years. What begins as a study in character and strength ends up being the hope-filled and desperate final days of one of the most memorable people in history. Anne Frank is able to live on thanks to her diary, as well as the people that lived with her through those last few years. Packed with loads of special features and filled with excellent performances from each of the starring actors, The Diary of Anne Frank in Blu-ray is an absolute must have. This comes highly recommended.
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Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.
