The Seventh Cross

Released Jul 24, 1944

1h 50m

Mystery & Thriller

List

100%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

When seven German prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp manage to escape, the Gestapo embarks on a mission to recapture and crucify all of the fugitives. Only George Heisler (Spencer Tracy) manages to elude the persistent Nazis, but he is met with indifference or hostility in his efforts to hide. Fortunately, he runs across the kind Madame Marelli (Agnes Moorehead) and family man Paul Roeder (Hume Cronyn), and with their help, he mounts a desperate bid for permanent freedom.

Age Staff

The Age (Australia)

[Spencer Tracy's] acting, always sincere, is consistently compelling, despite the fact that the theme of Anna Segher's best seller "The Seventh Cross," is not without its limitations.

Nov 19, 2020

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Variety Staff

Variety

This is a film of fine performances.

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

If you will accept this premise, despite the evidence of recent deeds, then you should be both moved and shaken by the better part of this film.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Douglas M. Fellows

Hartford Courant

With Spencer Tracy in the role of the unforgettable George Heisler, the cinema version of The Seventh Cross is one you won't soon forget.

Dec 2, 2020

Full Review

Don Q.

Cine-Mundial

Spencer Tracy's sincere performance in this intense drama about the current war is deeply moving. [Full review in Spanish]

Sep 18, 2019

Full Review

TV Guide

One of the best of the swarms of anti-Nazi films Hollywood produced during the war years.

Rated: 3.5/4

Nov 1, 2007

Full Review

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David S

A great movie! Kept my interest and told an important story. Got a sense of life in 1936 Germany.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/20/22

Full Review

kevin w

Spencer Tracy gives a taut performance as a German guy, early in the Nazi takeover, who struggles to understand just how much his country has changed. On the run after escaping from a concentration camp he has to try to get out of the country or be killed and is only a little surprised to discover that few of his old friends will dare help him. The real picture though is not about Tracy's character but rather about those old friends who do dare to try to help him, risking their jobs, their lives, and the lives of their families, and how they each embrace the gut-wrenching decision to "do the right thing". A surprising message in a bottle from the past with something to say about modern times. .

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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steve d

Powerful and really unnerving.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

ashley h

The Seventh Cross is an excellent film. It is about seven prisoners who escape from a concentration camp in 1936. Spencer Tracy and Signe Hasso give amazing performances. The screenplay is good but a little slow in places. Fred Zinnemann did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama. The Seventh Cross is a must see.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Jared D

Largely forgotten WWII concentration camp film with a great cast and very believable texture as directed by Fred Zinnemann (From Here to Eternity)

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/18/18

Full Review

Audience Member

The Seventh Cross. 1936 7 Jews escape a Jewish camp. 1 got caught by the Nazis shortly after they recognised the escape. Not a big fan of having the narration of the movie. The mirror bathroom scene was interesting how it was filmed because it looked like a split screen up until one of them nearly walked right into the mirror.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

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Fred Zinnemann

Director

Spencer Tracy

George Heisler

Signe Hasso

Antonia aka Toni

Hume Cronyn

Paul Roeder

Jessica Tandy

Liesel Roeder

Agnes Moorehead

Mme. Marelli

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Synopsis

When seven German prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp manage to escape, the Gestapo embarks on a mission to recapture and crucify all of the fugitives. Only George Heisler (Spencer Tracy) manages to elude the persistent Nazis, but he is met with indifference or hostility in his efforts to hide. Fortunately, he runs across the kind Madame Marelli (Agnes Moorehead) and family man Paul Roeder (Hume Cronyn), and with their help, he mounts a desperate bid for permanent freedom.

Director: Fred Zinnemann
Producer: Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter: Helen Deutsch
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 24, 1944, Original
Release Date (DVD): Nov 22, 2011
Runtime: 1h 50m