Blockade

Marco, a peasant farmer, becomes a leader of those who are fighting invaders during the Spanish Civil War. He is forced to shoot a man on suspicion of espionage; he turns out to be the father of Norma, a spy he met before the outbreak of the war. Marco arrests Norma, but after an air-raid in which they are nearly killed, she is released and takes a message which will lead to the destruction of a foodship. On the way she sees the miseries caused by blockade, realises what her work has done, and confesses all to Marco. The food-ship is saved. Marco and Norma are arrested, but escape a sentence of death, marry, and continue the struggle. Marco makes a final speech asking, 'Where's the conscience of the world?' Note: A famously cautious attempt by Hollywood to cover the previously inviolate Spanish Civil War, with the sides and indeed the country kept so vague that it could almost be anywhere (an opening title mentions Spain). However, Marco and his troops wear berets in the Basque fashion, and the sympathies are with the Republican sides, which got the film widely denounced by right-wing organisations and banned in fascist countries. Scriptwriter Lawson, nominated for an Academy Award for his original story, was later called before the House Committee on Un-American Activities, where BLOCKADE was cited. One of the 'Hollywood Ten', he was sent to prison for a year and was subsequently blacklisted. He also scripted the documentary HEART OF SPAIN (USA 1937, not in NFTVA).

Availability

• A 16mm print of this title is available to hire
• The print of this title is from the National Archive

Cast and Crew

Director

William Dieterle

Cinematographer

Rudolph Maté

Scriptwriter

John Howard Lawson

Production Company

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical information

Country

USA

Year

1938

Black and white

Running time

85 mins

Length

3043