Hangmen Also Die!

1943
Approved
2h 14m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Brian Donlevy and Anna Lee in Hangmen Also Die! (1943)

Film Noir Political Thriller Drama Thriller War

After the German administrator of Czechia is shot, his assassin tries to elude the Gestapo and struggles with his impulse to give himself up as hostages are executed.After the German administrator of Czechia is shot, his assassin tries to elude the Gestapo and struggles with his impulse to give himself up as hostages are executed.After the German administrator of Czechia is shot, his assassin tries to elude the Gestapo and struggles with his impulse to give himself up as hostages are executed.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

6.7K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 2 Oscars
- 1 win & 3 nominations total

Trivia
Originally, Bertolt Brecht was denied story credit by the Screen Writer's Guild, even though he worked closely with writer John Wexley on the project.

Goofs
In reality, Heydrich was assassinated by a team of Czech exiles sent back to the country by the British government.

Quotes
Czech Patriot: Your mothers were slimy rats! Their milk was sewer water!

Crazy credits
The end of the film reads "NOT The End".

Alternate versions
OPENING CREDIT ON 2012 RESTORATION: "Restored in 2012 by the Restoration Department Pinewood Studios UK utilising the best of the surviving archive film elements that included some original 1943 nitrate. With thanks to the BFI National Archive for preserving and supplying original film material."

Connections
Featured in Hooray for Holyrood (1986)

Soundtracks
Vltava
(The Moldau) (uncredited)
From "Má vlast (My Country)"
Music by Bedrich Smetana
Played in the movie theater
Also played on the radio during dinner

User reviews81

Review

Featured review

9/10

Why great directors make great films

The actors in this film made any number of cheesy B movies during the war, but with Berthold Brecht and Fritz Lang behind them they made a movie touching on greatness. Check out the characterizations of Heydrich, the policeman Gruber, and the other Gestapo agents. Walter Brennan as the patriotic father was an odd choice, but maybe I'm being blinded by his later Western sidekick roles. The sets are outstanding. Although obviously on a Hollywood back lot they made a very believable Prague, using in part pre-war travelogue footage of the city. Indoor scenes are excellent. The actors look like they live in a real place, not a cuckooland paradise that most hack directors would give you.