This is the tragic story of famed German actor/director/entertainer Kurt Guerron. He rose to fame in the 20s and 30s as a character actor in movies, including The Blue Angel, starring Marlena Dietrich. He was also known for singing Mack the Knive in the Three Penny Opera on the stage in Berlin. He was a heavyset, character actor who lived to entertain. He also was Jewish. He went on to direct successful films and had a thriving career for a time.

What happened in Germany once Hitler gained power is well known. Mr. Guerron went to France, then Holland to try and find work, thinking always and hoping that things would get better. He even saved the renowned actor, Peter Lorre, but helping him get to Hollywood. Mr. Guerron had Hollywood offers from his friends, but he left it to late. In the end, he was trapped in a country taken over by the Nazis.

He ended up in a Concentration Camp that was portrayed by the Germans as a resort for Jewish people. It was anything but and the next stop was death at Auschwitz.

Toward the end of the war, Mr. Guerron was enlisted to make a film continuing the lie that the camp was a lavish retreat. He did so and made a pretty convincing film. He and his family were threatened with death if he did not cooperate.

He did cooperate and did his best, but shortly after the film was finished, he and his family were transported to Auschwitz and killed on the same day. It was the last day that the gas chambers were used at Aushwitz.

All through out, Mr. Guerron just wanted to work and entertain. He was a beloved celebrity so it was a grave mistake for the Nazis to do what they did, although he was hated for collaborating in the making of the film. Some of the prisoners expressed understanding that he was threatened with death if he didn't do the Nazi bidding on this.

This is a powerful film. I wish it had subtitles because with some of the accents, speaking English is even difficult to understand what they are saying.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of Prisoner of Paradise   from Amazon.Com!

Created Feb 07, 2018 at 12:39pm • Submit your own review...