One of my all time favorites.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

The summary is NOT meant as a criticism. The Looney Tunes character, Pepe le Pew, was obviously based on Charles Boyer and in the film "Hold Back the Dawn" Boyer is at his le Pew best--pouring on the charm as he very aggressively courts a young lady!When the film begins, George (Boyer) insists on talking to an American film director (actually, the film's real director, Mitchell Leisen). He wants to tell him his story...as perhaps it will make a great film. The story then jumps to Mexico. George is a Hungarian refugee...and like so many refugees during WWII, he's trying desperately to get into the States. However, there was a quota system...with entry quotas for every nation decided by Congress. And, the Hungarian quota's already been met...meaning he will have to wait years in Mexico before he can legally immigrate! However, later he meets up with an old friend, Anita (Paulette Goddard) and she tells him that he could easily bypass the quota if he could just find some American sucker to marry! So, George goes in search of such a woman and after a day of searching, he hits upon a lonely American school teacher, Emmy (Olivia de Havilland) who has taken her young students to Mexico for a field trip. Their romance is whirlwind to save the least and the wicked George plans to dump her as soon as he can and connect up with Anita! But, fortunately, things don't quite work out this way. See the film to see what follows.The film presented a couple questions to me. Why cast a great French actor as a Hungarian? Why not have him play a Frenchman? Also, what sort of an insane school and school teacher would think of taking elementary school-age kids to Mexico for a field trip?! The logistics of it are a problem...plus it IS another country! Weird, huh?! Despite these minor problems, I did love this film. Boyer was simply at his best and the script is very compelling. In fact, it's a near perfect film and one that would make a great date night trip.

A quick watch at the first 20 minutes makes you think this one shouldn't be close; oily smooth operator Charles Boyer, a continental gigolo and dancer vs small town schoolmarm Olivia De Havilland. Blowout. Game over. But Hollywood has a way of evening the sides with a first class script and a great storyline.As noted, Boyer is trying to enter the US via Mexico just prior to WW II. In those days it was a long wait - about 6-8 years, he was told. What to do? He discovers he can get in almost immediately as the spouse of a US citizen, and he finds one in sitting duck De Havilland, who is conducting a class trip south of the border. There are several side stories attendant to this one, but they fade into the background of this intensely dramatic love story of deceit and redemption. Boyer always came across to me just as he does here, a conniver and a liar ("Gaslight", "All This And Heaven Too") and he was pitch perfect in this one. Olivia De Havilland, vulnerable and sensitive as always, got an AA nom for her work here - the film earned 6 AA nominations in all.Immigration problems seem like something from the middle ages nowadays, when there seems to be a turnstile at the border. This gives the picture a very dated feel. Some, like myself, may not care for the artificial ending but the two principals endow this movie with loads of heart and make it a winner. Too bad you can't see it, unless you find a DVD pirate and buy a copy.

It is a sad reflection that many of the movies made so long ago still compare brilliantly with the best of today. "Hold Back the Dawn" is one of those - superbly put together by Billy Wilder & Charles Brackett, and with some of the finest acting of 1941. Outtanding are Charles Boyer, in what I feel is his best acting, and Olivia de Havilland who apparently had to go to Paramount to be appreciated (her two Oscar films were made there, and she was nominated also for this one!) is a standout. Paulette Goddard in a role almost written for her was very good, and the supporting cast was excellent. Migrants trying to get into the United States has always been a hot topic, but here it is treated sympathetically in a very informative way. I have to say the ending was not well done, and one gets the feeling all was not well somewhere.

A fabulous film with an all star cast of Charles Boyer, Olivia De Havilland and Paulette Goddard. Boyer plays a man who is trying to get US citizenship, the only way by which turns out to be, marrying De Havilland's character. There is a sweet scene between the two when they set off on honeymoon and they play beautifully together throughout. Paulette Goddard is wonderful as the scheming other half and it's nice to see at the end that she gets what she's after!! Clever start to the film too - look out for Veronica Lake making a movie - and a lovely ending that really couldn't get any better.