Directed by: Louis King Script: Jack Andrews, Edward E. Paramore, Jr. Producer: Sol Wurtzel Production company: 20th Century Fox Cinematography: Glen MacWilliam Editing: Alfred Day Music: Hugo W. Friedhofer Cast: Philip Dorn, Anna Sten, Virginia Gilmore, Martin Kosleck
Format: 35mm Running time: 74'
Synopsis 'Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas' is about the resistance movement headed by Draža Mihailoviæ in Axis-occupied Yugoslavia. It depicts Mihailoviæ's guerrillas attacking German occupation troops, sabotaging trains, and engaging in battles with occupation forces. The movie is, however, highly unrealistic and romanticized, far from the actual nature of the Chetniks' resistance. Although formed as a resistance movement, and formally declaring themselves as such to the western Allies, the Chetniks were generally in agreement and actively collaborating with the occupation. The Chetniks, at first only inactive towards the occupation, eventually became a part of it, deemed in particular by fascist Italy to be indispensable for the continuation of Axis control. The Axis made good use of the Chetniks in holding chunks of territory from the Yugoslav resistance, the Partisans. In 1943 they lost all Allied support, in 1944 the denounced them, fully supporting the Partisans.
Directors Biography Louis King was born in 1898, in Christiansburg, Virginia and died in 1962, in Los Angeles, California. He started his film career in 1919 as an actor in silent films and directed his first film in 1927. He remained in the business until the end of the 40s. Some of his most successful films are ‘Thunderhead’, ‘Son of Flicka’, ‘Typhoon’, ‘Special Investigator’.
Location and screening schedule: BUG cinema &TD, Monday, October 19th at 18.00
