Arise My Love (1940)

During the latter days of the Spanish Civil War, a reporter (Claudette Colbert) poses as the wife of an imprisoned American pilot (Ray Milland) to save him from execution from Spanish fascists. She did it because she wants an exclusive story for her newspaper. The pilot, however, finds her very attractive and actively pursues a romantic relationship even though she is more interested in her career than romance. Directed by Mitchell Leisen (EASY LIVING), the movie takes an unusual path for a romantic comedy mixed with propaganda. America had not yet entered WWII and there was still some apathy in the U.S. about supporting the "European" war. The film aims to entertain while encouraging active resistance to the Nazi takeover of Europe. The mix of the romcom and propaganda elements don't always go smoothly. As long as Colbert and Milland focus on the romantic and comedic aspects, all is well. The rest borders on preachy. The screenplay by Billy Wilder (not yet a director) and Charles Brackett won an Oscar for its story. With Dennis O'Keefe, George Zucco, Dick Purcell and Ann Codee.