The World of Tomorrow (2004)

Excellent!!!!
This movie was made before it's time. I urge anyone who want to see reality and a real thriller to purchase this movie. The acting was perfect!!!!

Tomorrow, The World!
A very watchable film. Worth the time to watch. It would be interesting to see how it would be remade today. The actor that played the evil little Hitler youth, Emil, did such a good job I wanted to beat the stuffing out of him myself.

Is this film a warning for the future of this country? It could be if the IslamoNazi's aren't held in check and some people in this country keep their head's buried in the sand. You can bet young people like Emil are already here just waiting for their order to attack.

fine wartime drama with a political slant
Tomorrow-The World gives us a fine drama with even some thriller aspects set in America during World War II. The plot moves along at a good pace although there are some times when the movie could have been trimmed a bit here and there. The choice to film this movie in black and white will enhance the overall emotional effect it has on its audience.

The action begins in a "typical" American household that isn't actually so typical: wartime scientist Mike Frame (Fredric March) is about to marry his Jewish girlfriend Leona Richards (Betty Field). Mike has a daughter, Pat (Joan Carroll), presumably from a previous marriage and they have a German-American housekeeper as well. Just when everything looked rather rosy right before Mike and Leona's wedding, in comes Emil Bruckner (Skippy Homeier), a young 11 year old boy from Germany who is Mike's nephew.

And that's where trouble quickly starts. Emil has been brainwashed by the Nazi party in Germany that his father was a traitor and that all Americans will inevitably be conquered by Hitler's regime. Emil starts upsetting people the first day he arrives by coming downstairs for lunch in a Nazi uniform complete with swas****. Emil soon alienates the other children at school; and Emil tries desperately to ruin his uncle Mike's plans to marry the Jewish Leona Richards.

Some people believe that to some degree this is a propaganda film. Yes, there is indeed an undercurrent of that flavor. The American family is remarkably pure and civilized--they don't believe in beating children (which still happened plenty in 1944, the year this film was made); and marriage between a Jew and a Christian seems not to bother anyone. Naturally, in 1944 mainstream America might not have approved of such a marriage. The striking proof that this is an unusually progressive family comes when Emil notices that Mike's daughter Pat calls her father by his first name! Now THAT'S not so common even in OUR times! Of course, the Nazi child Emil has blond hair and blue eyes; a rather mean stare on his face; and he wants to cause as much heartache as he can for the Americans in order to honor Hitler.

Emil Bruckner (Skippy Homeier) truly DOES steal the show with his excellent, convincing acting--and the ending scenes with Emil once again prove his competence as a fine actor. Fredric March turns in a great performance as Mike Frame who tries so hard along with the other Americans to be patient while Emil "adjusts" to American life--even though his "adjustment" and de-brainwashing remains highly in doubt at many times throughout the picture.

Actualy, there's much more to the plot but I hate to put in too many spoilers--just get this film and watch it! They did a great job with the cinematography; and the choreography shines in crowded classroom scenes and other scenes that are designed to have an emotional impact on the viewer.

In short, Tomorrow-The World represents a great period piece about the Nazis and the Americans who want to help Germany overthrow and overcome its domination by an evil dictator. The fine acting holds your attention even if at times they could have left a little bit more on the cutting room floor. The incredibly pure and good Americans want so desperately to change Emil for the better they come off looking like Saints even though they have their occasional human frailties!

I highly recommend this film for World War II buffs and anyone who cares to enjoy a fine drama about people as they cope with the strife caused by that war. Fans of Fredric March and Agnes Moorehead will enjoy seeing their idols on the screen; and the children's acting remains very impressive to this day.