The Diary of Anne Frank

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (PG)

D: George Stevens

20th Century Fox (George Stevens)

US 🇺🇸 1959

179 mins

Drama/Biopic

W: Frances Goodrich & Albert Hackett [based on their play & the book “The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank]

DP: William C. Mellor

Ed: David Bretherton, William Mace & Robert Swink

Mus: Alfred Newman

PD: George W. Davis & Lyle Wheeler

Cos: Charles LeMaire & Mary Wills

Millie Perkins (Anne Frank), Joseph Schildkraut (Otto Frank), Shelley Winters (Petronella Van Daan), Richard Beymer (Peter Van Daan), Gusti Huber (Edith Frank), Diane Baker (Margot Frank), Ed Wynn (Albert Dussel)

I couldn’t say that ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ is an entertaining film, but it certainly is captivating.

It’s evident that the screenplay here is based upon a stage play, rather than a direct adaption of ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ since the whole story takes place in the confines of the attic above a spice merchants, although some exterior shots were shot on location in Amsterdam.

Anne, a 14-year-old girl, takes refuge in the secret annexe with her family and another Jewish family, the Van Daan’s, as nazi forces take control of the Netherlands during the Second World War, rounding up Jews to send to concentration camps.

The two families must stay silent during the day, though at night they do have some freedoms to have conversations and eat what little food they have available. 

On her birthday, Anne received her diary, upon which she journals the events that unfold, until they are eventually captured by German soldiers.

The convincing period detail and stark black and white cinematography add to the claustrophobic feeling of the film, and it’s really an ensemble piece where all the performances are strong.  Millie Perkins, as Anne, is visibly too old to make for a convincing teenage girl, but it’s still a decent performance, though the strongest performance of the film has to be Shelley Winters, who won an Oscar for her portrayal as the Van Daan matriarch.

Not an enjoyable watch, but one that will hauntingly stay with you.

8/10