Fritz Lang gathered together an impressive group of actors for this story about the terror imposed on the Czech people following their attempt to remove Reinhard Heydrich from power. The historical occurrence that sparks the narrative happens relatively soon, which allows the film to concentrate on the extreme violence of the ruling force and the bravery shown by those who continued resisting, even when faced with seemingly random punishments. The central character has to locate a safe place, avoid being discovered, and figure out who can be relied upon while witnessing the suffering of people around him—regardless of their innocence or culpability. I was most impressed by Gene Lockhart's portrayal of "Czaka," the collaborating beer baron and collaborator; he delivers a very strong performance. Walter Brennan is also convincing as Professor “Novotny,” the elderly historian, and Alexander Granach does well playing the Gestapo officer tasked with identifying the person responsible for the attack. The film occasionally feels overly talkative, but Lang carefully builds an atmosphere of dread as legal authority gradually stripped people of their fundamental rights, and the dark cinematography is especially impactful. This story has been revisited a few times before, but never to this level of quality, and although it’s primarily imagined, it remains very powerful.

Source on TMDB