Film Historian Jay Sorkin will speak TONIGHT (Thursday) night at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.
As part of ALPLMs STORIES OF SURVIVAL exhibit Sorkin will discuss the incredible exodus of talented artists and craftsmen from Nazi Germany to Hollywood during the 1930s and 40s.
Sorkin says great stars like Hedy Lamarr and Peter Lorre and directors such as Billy Wilder and Fritz Lang escaped Hitler’s regime and made a name for themselves in America.
Sorkin says just among refugee musical composers: 150 Oscar nominations and 30 wins during that era. He went on to say that the quintessential refugee film, CASABLANCA, made in Hollywood, only has 3 Americans among its 38 credited actors. The rest all emigres from fascist Europe.
The ALPLM event is free but you must have a reservation. Go to President Lincoln.Illinois.gov.