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      The Divided Heart

      1954 1h 29m Drama List
      Reviews During the turmoil of World War II, a German woman named Inga (Cornell Borchers) goes missing and is presumed dead, orphaning a young boy. The toddler is found wandering the streets by a well-meaning and childless couple (Yvonne Mitchell, Armin Dahlen), and they agree to take the child in and raise him as their own. But, when the boy (Michel Ray) is 10 years old, Inga returns, demanding custody of her son. It's up to a sympathetic judge (Alexander Knox) to decide what's best for the boy. Read More Read Less

      Audience Reviews

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      Ken R The Divided Heart - A Decision No-one Should Have To Make The spoils and utter disruption war creates, especially in the lives of the innocent bystander are dramatically, and believably spotlighted in this sincere Ealing Studios study of two families. At the core of this well-produced British drama is the decision that has to be made (and then lived with) by two women over the fate of an orphaned young boy. A lad adopted into a loving German family, who after seven years of parenting - is suddenly confronted by the claims of a Yugoslavian woman who lost her husband and two other children --that the boy may be her lad-- taken from her just after the child's birth. Beautiful Award-winning performances, by Cornel Borchers and Yvonne Mitchell as the two women faced with the heart-breaking decision, are given strong support by Alexander Knox and Geoffrey Keen. These are captured on film by astute veteran Czech cinematographer Otto Heller (‘Richard 111 '55) From an intelligent screenplay by respected writer's Jack Whitingham and Richard Hughes, based a true story, it's well-realised by director Charles Crichton (Dead of Night '45). Child prodigy French Composer Georges Auric (The wages of Fear '55) supplies the rich score. Not to be missed by admirers of fine British drama. The Studio Canal DVD transfer has been taken from a clean original source with fine-grain image and OK sound. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/28/20 Full Review Audience Member This is a dignified and beautifully done movie. It is dated of course, but for me it was incredibly moving. The characters, scenery and acting were superb, and it was a refreshing change from modern movies in that there was no "action" or hysteria. There was a genuine effort to convey a very sad human dilemma. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Dull melodrama about a young boy who is adopted by German parents just after WW2 believing him to be an orphan but his maternal mother appears on the scene. Based on a true story Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member good WWII drama post WWII Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Divided Heart

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis During the turmoil of World War II, a German woman named Inga (Cornell Borchers) goes missing and is presumed dead, orphaning a young boy. The toddler is found wandering the streets by a well-meaning and childless couple (Yvonne Mitchell, Armin Dahlen), and they agree to take the child in and raise him as their own. But, when the boy (Michel Ray) is 10 years old, Inga returns, demanding custody of her son. It's up to a sympathetic judge (Alexander Knox) to decide what's best for the boy.
      Director
      Charles Crichton
      Producer
      Michael Truman
      Production Co
      Ealing Studios, Republic
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      1h 29m