The Case of Sergeant Grischa (1930)
Arnold Zweig's Book
By Mordaunt Hall
Published: March 8, 1930
In some respects Herbert Brenon's audible film transcription of Arnold Zweig's novel, "The Case of Sergeant Grischa," which is now at the Globe, is an earnest endeavor in the right direction. It is not, however, as it is described on the program, a "dramatic masterpiece." It is a semi-symbolic preachment against the powers of supreme military commanders and, as such, it carries a certain effect, but it fails to convey sufficient reason for much that happens.
It is improbable that the General in command of the German troops on the Eastern front would ever have given much thought concerning the shooting of a Russian prisoner who had made his escape under another name. The incidents approach a point of absurdity when the General argues with a subordinate General concerning the fate of Sergeant Grischa, for to any one who witnesses this film it is scarcely probable that the High Command would have had time to meddle with relatively unimportant incidents which might reasonably be entrusted to the decision of subordinate officers.
Therefore, this story is seldom convincing. Several officers appear to be wrangling about the ruthlessness of the High Command, when they, too, in the natural course of war happenings, would have other matters to occupy their attention—that is, the lives of hundreds of thousands of men, rather than that of one prisoner of war.
Mr. Brenon has not imbued this film with any great imagination, and the incidents are such that they constantly cause a spectator to desire an explanation for the actions of the participants. Also the story is laid in East Prussia, and Mr. Brenon errs in having pure English and broken
English spoken by persons who, as characters, are of the same nationality. To be more explicit, Alec B. Francis plays a subordinate German General; Jean Hersholt, a Dane, who speaks with a decided foreign accent, is a German Judge Advocate; Gustav von Seyffertitz, who speaks English with an emphatic German inflection, plays the General in supreme command of the Eastern front, and Paul McAllister, whose English is faultless, figures as a German corporal. If they all spoke fluent English there would be no reason to criticize their speech, but when one hears Mr. Francis and Mr. von Seyffertitz bickering together, it hardly seems that they belong to the same soldiery and it is almost comic when the sincere Mr. Hersholt converses with Mr. Francis.
Chester Morris acts the part of Sergeant Grischa and Betty Compson impersonates Babka, a girl who is in love with him. These two succeed fairly well in their parts, except that Miss Compson never for an instant impresses one as resembling a Russian refugee. Grischa is eager to get home and Babka suggests that he pose as Bjuscheff, a Russian soldier who has been killed. Babka gives to Grischa Bjuscheff's identity disk.
Grischa goes to a friend of Babka's in Mervinsk. He asks for food and is hidden for a few moments in the cellar of the house. Corporal Sacht of the German troops, after chatting with Babka's friend, an elderly man, chances to notice a Russian cap at the half-open door of the cellar. Grischa is arrested and condemned to be shot, through a specific order sent out from the Supreme Command. Grischa is hysterical and subsequently confesses his real identity, telling why he took the name of Bjuscheff.
For some unexplained reason, Grischa becomes a favorite with the German soldiers. He is permitted an unusual amount of freedom, but General von Lychow (Mr. Francis) hears from the Commander-in-Chief, General Schieffenzahn (Mr. von Seyffertitz), who wishes the execution of Grischa carried out without further delay.
This induces General von Lychow to go to headquarters to talk matters over with General Schieffenzahn. The latter is adamant, but after von Lychow leaves, he relents and gives orders to cancel Grischa's death sentence. There is a severe storm and the wires are broken down, which prevents the message being dispatched.
There are muddled events toward the end, with Babka intending to poison some of the Germans and a German lieutenant, who sympathizes with Grischa, being prevented by a corporal from taking Grischa from his cell and hiding him until they can be certain whether Shieffenzahn has changed his mind.
Mr. Morris is not particularly natural as Grischa. He is too eager to compel attention, either with hysteria or by his forced exhibition of camaraderie. Mr. Francis seems like a minister of the Gospel masquerading in military apparel. Mr. Hersholt suffers through his lines as well as his diction. The outstanding performance, one of considerable power and naturalness, is that of Mr. von Seyffertitz.
After viewing this picture it is plain that it takes a great deal more than a tragic ending to make a pictorial story dramatic.
Arnold Zweig's Book.
THE CASE OF SERGEANT GRISCHA, with Chester Morris, Betty Compson, Alec B. Francis, Gustav von Seyffertitz, Jean Hersholt, Paul McAllister, Leyland Hodgson, Raymond Whitaker, Bernard Siegel and Frank McCormack, based on Arnold Zweig's novel, directed by Herbert Brenon.
