Though Andre DeToth’s film was made in 1944, during the World War II, its subject was ahead of its times. The tale’s setting is a post-war crimes trial, not unlike the later Nuremberg trials (which Stanley Kramer made into a movie, Judgment at Nuremberg).
Alexander Knox plays Wilhelm Grimm, a Nazi officer who is on trial, and the story unfolds through the testimonies of witnesses residing in a Polish village, including a Catholic priest, Father Warecki (Henry Travers), Grimm’s brother Karl (Erik Rolf) and Marja Pacierkowski (Marsha Hunt), a woman to whom he was engaged.
Columbia’s producer Sam Bischoff was inspired by President Roosevelt’s statement on August 21, 1942 that the Allies would bring Nazi leaders to court after the war.
For accuracy purposes, the script was submitted to the U.S. State Department for review.
Alfred Neumann and Joseph Than were nominated for the Best Story Oscar, but didn’t win.
None Shall Escape is considered to be the first feature to deal with Nazi atrocities against the Jews.
