Voice in the Wind ** (1944, Francis Lederer, Sigrid Gurie, J Edward Bromberg, J Carrol Naish, Alexander Granach)

The 1944 film Voice in the Wind is a romantic film noir thriller about two escapees – Czech concert pianist Jan Foley (Francis Lederer) and lovely young Marya (Sigrid Gurie) – from wartime Germany re-encountering tragically on the island of Guadelupe.

‘A Strange new kind of picture’. Director Arthur Ripley’s 1944 film Voice in the Wind is written by Friedrich Torberg, based on a story written by Arthur Ripley, and stars Francis Lederer, Sigrid Gurie, J Edward Bromberg, J Carrol Naish, and Alexander Granach.

Voice in the Wind is a rather uninspiring romantic film noir thriller World War Two flag-waver and morale booster about two escapees – Czech concert pianist Jan Foley (Francis Lederer) and lovely young woman Marya (Sigrid Gurie) – from wartime Germany re-encountering tragically on the island of Guadelupe in the Caribbean.

Pianist Jan Foley (Lederer) has become an amnesiac after being tortured by the Nazis for playing a banned song, so he goes to live under a new identity ‘El Hombre’ on the island of French-governed Guadelupe to try to regain his memory and his health, while working for refugee smuggler Angelo (Alexander Granach). One evening, Foley plays a sombre tune on the piano in a room full of other refugees, Dr Hoffman (J Edward Bromberg), his wife Anna (Olga Fabian) and their invalid charge Marya Volny (Sigrid Gurie). Angelo’s brothers, Luigi (J Carrol Naish) and Marco (David Cota), wish Foley dead.

Voice in the Wind is cheaply made, all-too-hastily filmed, unlikely nonsense with a solemn tone, mostly flat performances and murky filming. There is nice music, though, from Oscar-nominated Michel Michelet. And Granach and Naish are both excellent as the clashing brothers.

Also in the cast are David Cota, Olga Fabian, Howard Johnson, Luis Alberni, and Martin Garralaga.

There were two 1945 Academy Award Nominations: Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (Michel Michelet) and Best Sound, Recording, (Mac Dalgleish) (RCA Sound).

It was released on March 3, 1944 (US).

A Voice in the Wind is directed by Arthur Ripley, runs 85 minutes, Ripley/Monter Productions, is released by United Artists, is written by Friedrich Torberg, based on a story written by Arthur Ripley, is shot in black and white by Richard Fryer, is produced by Rudolph Monter and Arthur Ripley, and is scored by Michel Michelet.

The cast are Francis Lederer as Jan Volny, Sigrid Gurie as Marya, J Edward Bromberg as Dr Hoffman, J Carrol Naish as Luigi, Alexander Granach as Angelo, David Cota as Marco, Olga Fabian as Anna, Howard Johnson as Captain von Neubach, Hans Schumm as Piesecke, Luis Alberni as Bartender, George Sorel as Detective, Martin Garralaga as Policeman, Jacqueline Dalya as Portuguese Girl, Rudolf Myzet as Novak, and Fred Nurney as Vasek.

Francis Lederer worked till a week before he died on May 25, 2000, at the age of 100, in Palm Springs, California, one of the last surviving World War One veterans of the Austro-Hungarian Army.

Arthur Ripley also directed the 1946 film noir The Chase with Robert Cummings, Michèle Morgan, Peter Lorre, and Steve Cochran. He later helped to establish the Film Center at U.C.L.A, though returned to directing for Thunder Road (1958) at the request of Robert Mitchum.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,584

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