The Diary of Anne Frank (1959)

7.4Approved152 minDirector: George Stevens

1959 American film directed by George Stevens

The Diary of Anne Frank is a 1959 American biographical drama film based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1955 play of the same name, which was in turn based on the posthumously published diary of Anne Frank, a German-born Jewish girl who lived in hiding in Amsterdam with her family during World War II. It was directed by George Stevens, a Hollywood filmmaker previously involved with capturing evidence of concentration camps during the war, from a screenplay by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It is the first film version of both the play and the original story, and features three members of the original Broadway cast.

Many of Frank's writings to her diary were addressed as "Dear Kitty". It was published after the end of the war by her father, Otto Frank (played in the film by Joseph Schildkraut, who was also Jewish). His entire family had been murdered in the Holocaust. The interiors were shot in Los Angeles on a sound stage duplicate of the Amsterdam factory, with exteriors filmed at the actual building.

The film was positively received by critics, currently holding an 81% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards in 1960, winning three, including Best Supporting Actress for Shelley Winters. Shelley Winters later donated her Oscar to the Anne Frank House museum. In 2006, it was honored as the eighteenth most inspiring American film on the list AFI's 100 Years...100 Cheers.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Diary of Anne Frank about?
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) — In Nazi-occupied Holland in World War II, shopkeeper Kraler hides two Jewish families in his attic. Young Anne Frank keeps a diary of everyday life for the Franks and the Van Daans, chronicling the Nazi threat as well as family dynamics. A romance with Peter Van Daan causes jealo
Is The Diary of Anne Frank based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Diary of Anne Frank scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.