Where to Watch Hold Back the Dawn (1941) in the US

What it's about

Romanian gigolo Georges Iscovescu is trying to get into the United States to become a citizen, it the land of opportunity even in his line of work. Because of the visa requirement, he instead travels to Tijuana, Mexico to cross into the States via the land border, not realizing that this situation has its own obstacles, namely the quota system per country, and Romanians have up to an eight year wait. In joining the queue in Tijuana, he ends up at the Hotel Esperanza, which houses many of those in his similar situation, some of those others who have their own story in trying to become American citizens. In running into an old colleague he met in Europe, the former Polish-Australian Anita Dixon now divorced US citizen Mrs. Shaughnessy - she a female version of him - he decides to do what she did to become a US citizen: get married to an American, Mr. Shaughnessy whom she quickly divorced after getting her citizenship. After a few missteps in finding an American to marry, Georges sets his sights on schoolteacher Emmy Brown, a woman naive in the affairs of the heart, she in Mexico with her class on a field trip. What happens between Georges and Emmy is affected by: the presence of Mr. Hammock, a US immigration inspector who is trying to clamp down on marriages of convenience, which are illegal in terms of gaining US citizenship; the presence of Mrs. Shaughnessy, who will do whatever is required to ply her trade with him, the two of them together whom she sees as the perfect match in being the same; and Georges' own ideas of what best to with Emmy.

Cast and crew

Director

Mitchell Leisen

Writer

Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, Ketti Frings

Starring

Charles Boyer, Olivia de Havilland, Paulette Goddard

Details

Release date

Sep 26, 1941

Language

English, Spanish, Latin, French, German

Country

United States

Awards

Nominated for 6 Oscars. 1 win & 7 nominations total

Where to Watch Hold Back the Dawn (1941) in the US — common questions

Where to watch Hold Back the Dawn in the United States?

Hold Back the Dawn is available to rent in the United States. Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I stream Hold Back the Dawn or do I have to rent it in the United States?

Rent the movie on Apple TV Store, Fandango at Home, and Prime Video.

Can I watch Hold Back the Dawn for free in the United States?

We have not confirmed a free option for Hold Back the Dawn in the United States.