This Land Is Mine (1943)

Set in an unspecified European country, a timid school teacher (Charles Laughton) lives with his clinging jealous mother (Una O'Connor) while secretly in love with the girl (Maureen O'Hara) next door. When the Nazis invade his town, he will be forced to take a stand. Directed by Jean Renoir (RULES OF THE GAME). The term propaganda movie in reference to WWII cinema is generally seen as a negative. Most of them, done to boost morale or support the war effort, are of their era and not especially good movies. But to use a blanket term like "WWII propaganda movie" does a disservice to some of the very good movies (however rare) made during the war years. THIS LAND IS MINE is one of the very good examples. The screenplay by Dudley Nichols (STAGECOACH) doesn't make the Germans (here in the form of Walter Slezak's cultured Nazi) loutish thugs or the collaborators slimy snakes nor are the heroes without human frailties either. The film is anchored by Laughton's excellent performance. He has a couple of monologues that if he were on stage would receive an ovation when he finished. With George Sanders, Nancy Gates, Kent Smith and George Coulouris.