Hell on Earth

Alternative title

Niemandsland

Synopsis

The story of five men, an Englishman, a Frenchman, a German, a Russian Jew, and a Black American who meet on the battlefield of World War I. Setting aside their prejudices, they refuse to kill each other and march forward against the real enemy: war.
Shot in 1931, this is the first international ‘talkie’, with music by Hans Eisler, the composer of THE THREEPENNY OPERA. One of its main characters was played by Lewis Douglas, a black American actor, and this made the film especially hateful to Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels who ordered every copy of the film to be destroyed. Miraculously an American print survived. It was distributed as HELL ON EARTH. This is a new digital transfer made in 2001 by Inkel Images. [64 minutes]

Language

English (United States)

Country

Germany

Year of production

1931

Subjects

History

Keywords

World War 1; pacifism

Online availability

URI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-4XhNMWoyw

Delivery

Streamed

Credits

Director

George Shdanoff; Victor Trivas

Distributor

Name

YouTube

Web

http://www.youtube.com External site opens in new window