Blockade

An explosive tale of bravery and passion in a land ripped apart by war.

The screen explodes with action and romance in this war-torn drama. Henry Fonda stars as the passionate, courageous Marco, a peasant farmer determined to protect his land from invading soldiers. The gorgeous Madeline Carroll is Norma, the daredevil spy whose heart he captures. With gunfire thundering around them, they struggle against a powerful enemy blockade that is preventing the delivery of desperately needed food in a fiery battle that could change the course of the war.

With its focus on the controversial Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), Blockade bravely tackled a subject that most of Hollywood had refused to touch and, between the lines, dared to challenge the public to confront the growing Nazi threat. Producer Walter Wanger stubbornly resisted strong pressure not to release the film, which drew protests at its opening, but was ultimately recognized with 1939 Oscar nominations for best writing and best score.