Writers:

Arthur Ripley (original story),  Friedrich Torberg (adaptation)    

Francis Lederer,  Sigrid Gurie,  J. Edward Bromberg 

 

Originally slated for PRC release, Voice in the Wind was eventually distributed by United Artists. The film was directed by the estimable Arthur Ripley, a graduate of 2-reel comedies who aspired to bring art with a capital "A" to the cinema. Francis Lederer stars as Jan Foley, an amnesiac Czech musician who has suffered mightily under Nazi tyranny. Living under a new identity on the island of Guadalupe, Jan tries to recall his past life while working for crooked refugee-smuggler Angelo (Alexander Granach). During a moment of crisis which results in Angelo's death, Jan suddenly regains his memory. He hurries back to the bedside of his ailing wife Marya (Sigrid Gurie), hoping against hope that he won't be too late to start life anew with her. As one critic put it, the film "could be bluntly described as one of the pictures that is considered brilliant because everybody dies at the end." Though Arthur Ripley's self-conscious symbolism doesn't wear too well, Voice in the Wind deserves credit for going against the grain of conservative Hollywood assembly-line entertainment.