Radio review – SGP - “Watch on the Rhine” (1944) **

Lillian Hellman’s play had its admirers, particularly at the time – it’s like this Washington drawing room family drama with an anti-fascist thrown in (what is he pro?). Paul Lukas is very good in a difficult part; Bette Davis is awful – given no real character to play other than supportive wife she affects this received pronunciation and generally gets on the nerves. They have some perfect kids, who presumably won’t mind that dad blows away a blackmailer; he isn’t punished – murder was alright in wartime.