Threats (1940)
A haunting French wartime drama set in a Paris hotel, where fear of the approaching war shadows every guest.
Threats - Movie Information
- Original Title: Menaces...
- Release Year: 1940
- Directed by: Edmond T. Gréville
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama, War
- Runtime: 1h 35m
- Original Language: French
- Spoken Languages: French
- Release Date (Theatrical): January 11, 1940 (France)
- Production Companies: Union Française de Production Cinématographique (UFPC), Les Films G.É.C.É.
- Production Countries: France
Threats - Plot
"Menaces" deals with the months before WW2 in a hotel : the fear of the impending war never leaves the guests of an hotel in Paris.
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Threats - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Edmond T. Gréville
Main Cast
- Mireille Balin
- John Loder
- Ginette Leclerc
- Erich von Stroheim
- Vanda Gréville
- Maurice Maillot
- Paul Demange
- Jacques Henley
- René Charles
- Robert Moor
Writers
- Edmond T. Gréville
- Curt Alexander
Threats - FAQs
What is Threats about?
Threats is set in a Paris hotel during the anxious months leading up to World War II. The film follows a diverse group of guests — each carrying their own fears and secrets — as the dread of imminent conflict quietly seeps into every conversation, relationship, and decision they make.
Who directed Threats?
Threats was directed by Edmond T. Gréville, a French-British filmmaker known for his stylish, atmospheric work during the 1930s and 1940s. Gréville also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Curt Alexander, giving the film a distinctly personal creative vision.
Who are the main actors in Threats?
The cast features Mireille Balin as Denise, John Loder as Dick Stone, Ginette Leclerc as Ginette, and the legendary Erich von Stroheim as Professor Hoffman. Vanda Gréville, Maurice Maillot, and Jacques Henley round out the ensemble of hotel guests caught in the gathering storm.
When was Threats released?
Threats was released in France on January 11, 1940 — just months after the outbreak of World War II. This timing gave the film an immediate, raw relevance, as audiences watching it were themselves living through the very anxiety the story so vividly portrays.
Why is Erich von Stroheim's role in Threats significant?
Erich von Stroheim plays Professor Hoffman, a character whose presence adds a layer of menace and moral ambiguity to the film. Von Stroheim, already an iconic figure in cinema, brought enormous gravitas to the role, and his casting feels especially charged given the film's wartime European setting.
What genre is Threats?
Threats is a Drama and War film. Rather than depicting battlefield action, it focuses on the psychological and emotional toll of impending conflict, making it a quiet but deeply unsettling portrait of Europe on the brink of catastrophe.
How long is Threats?
Threats runs for 95 minutes. The film uses its runtime efficiently, building tension through character interactions and atmosphere rather than dramatic set pieces, keeping viewers engaged in the slow-burning dread that permeates every scene.
What are similar movies to Threats?
If Threats resonates with you, you might also enjoy In Syria (2017), The Forgotten Battle (2021), Waiting for Anya (2020), Father & Soldier (2023), and From Hilde, with Love (2024) — all compelling wartime dramas that explore the human cost of conflict with depth and sensitivity.
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