THE SEARCH (1948)

After a dutiful decade of ‘shorts’ and mid-list features @ M-G-M, director Fred Zinnemann had a breakthrough (style, subject, quality) with this deeply felt, deeply moving film about post-WWII displaced children. Filmed quickly in Switzerland with a small foreign crew and on-location in the Berlin ruins, Zinnemann’s documentarian leanings are merged with Italian Neo-Realism, especially in the first half. The rest, if more traditionally structured with story beats and even a melodramatic race-against-the-clock finale, also beautifully handled. Ten-year-old Ivan Jandl makes a very believable lost boy, a runaway from his new American guardians who may want to help, but look too much like concentration camp authorities. Alone after his more outgoing pal drowns during their escape, he’s discovered scavenging by U.S. Army soldier Montgomery Clift who takes him in like a wounded pup. Neither knows the boy’s mother has also survived the war and is hunting for him everywhere. A broken pair, the sole family survivors, their path to recovery and reunion exceptionally touching, with Zinnemann’s natural restraint & reserve opening honest floodgates of emotion. A truly wonderful film.

ATTENTION MUST BE PAID: On the acting front: Clift, in his official film debut (he’d already shot RED RIVER, but this opened first) must have been a revelation at the time. And he still is, rarely so emotionally unguarded and open. The mother is played by the great operatic soprano Jarmila Novotna, a legend at The MET as Susannah in MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (with Bruno Walter & Ezio Pinza) and a stunning Violetta in LA TRAVIATA. Previously seen only in ‘30s German operetta films, she’s a natural. Why no more similar roles? Zinnemann earned kudos for his work with the film’s displaced children (actual war victims) and for helping Jandl win a ‘Juvenile’ Oscar®. He deserves even more credit for getting animated, sensitive playing out of dull Wendell Corey.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: Least seen of Roberto Rossellini’s post-WWII Neo-Realist trilogy, GERMANY YEAR ZERO/’47 tackles similar issues & situations, but (pace critical opinion) is a surprisingly lumpy and far more melodramatic work. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2008/05/germany-year-zero-1947.html