A classic in its day, "The Diary of Anne Frank" sadly does not have the same impact today in light of the more recent and far more powerful "Schindler's List".
Anne's story is a well known and common one about two Jewish families taking refuge in the loft of a warehouse owned and run by a compassionate Dutch couple whose hatred of the Nazis is shared by many.
Two rather glaring faults let George Steven's film down, one being excessive over-length. At more than two hours, forty minutes, "The Diary of Anne Frank" asks a lot of the audience in the way of concentration. So many scenes are dragged out far too long, while others seem simply unnecessary. And unlike the more recent, hard hitting holocaust films, we see nothing of the dreadful death camps that were the lot of so many Jews.
The other weak link is the cast, none of whom are able to truly inspire with a strong portrayal as was needed. Especially disappointing is Millie Perkins in the pivotal role of Anne, Miscast, she never quite captures the heart of the spirited young girl made famous by her diary. The music featured is far too melodramatic also.
Certainly watchable and somewhat educational, though screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett are never quite able to captivate as they perhaps could have with a more tense, forceful script.
Friday, February 14, 1997 - Video
Anne's story is a well known and common one about two Jewish families taking refuge in the loft of a warehouse owned and run by a compassionate Dutch couple whose hatred of the Nazis is shared by many.
Two rather glaring faults let George Steven's film down, one being excessive over-length. At more than two hours, forty minutes, "The Diary of Anne Frank" asks a lot of the audience in the way of concentration. So many scenes are dragged out far too long, while others seem simply unnecessary. And unlike the more recent, hard hitting holocaust films, we see nothing of the dreadful death camps that were the lot of so many Jews.
The other weak link is the cast, none of whom are able to truly inspire with a strong portrayal as was needed. Especially disappointing is Millie Perkins in the pivotal role of Anne, Miscast, she never quite captures the heart of the spirited young girl made famous by her diary. The music featured is far too melodramatic also.
Certainly watchable and somewhat educational, though screenwriters Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett are never quite able to captivate as they perhaps could have with a more tense, forceful script.
Friday, February 14, 1997 - Video