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I'm An American -- Luise Rainer

Recorded Sound | Digitized | RG Number: RG-91.0027

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    Overview

    Description
    On May 18, 1940 Luise Rainer spoke with William Carmichael, of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, on the NBC radio broadcast about her experience as an American. The leading lady reveals why she, and many other immigrants, choose to exchange one homeland for another. Carmichael informs his guest President Roosevelt declared the third Sunday in May “I Am An American Day”. Rainer recites The Oath of Allegiance and explains her realization of the vow. Luise Rainer says, “Perhaps it takes a new American coming from a land of not so much liberty to understand what the National Anthem means”. She concludes the interview by singing the last verse of “America”.

    Luise Rainer was born on January 12, 1910 in Dusseldorf, Germany to an affluent Jewish family. She was discovered by legendary theater director Max Reinhardt and flourished under his mentorship. The young actress appeared on several stages and movies in Berlin, Vienna, and Germany in the 1930s. Rainer’s career was cut short when Adolf Hitler enacted the Nuremberg Laws in 1935. Nevertheless, the starlet was offered a seven year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and immigrated to the United States. Luise Rainer’s disdain for Hitler’s Germany earned her the moniker the “Viennese teardrop”. She went on to be the first thespian to win two Academy Awards for Best Actress consecutively in 1936 and 1937. The following year Luise Rainer became an American citizen.
    Date
    Broadcast:  1940 May 18
    Format
    WAV

    Physical Details

    Language
    English
    Genre/Form
    Radio broadcasts.

    Rights & Restrictions

    Conditions on Access
    This archival media can only be accessed in a Museum reading room or other on-campus viewing stations.
    Copyright
    NBC Universal
    Conditions on Use
    Contact NBC Universal at www.nbcuniarchives.com for permission to duplicate and use this film or sound recording.

    Keywords & Subjects

    Geographic Name
    United States.

    Administrative Notes

    Recorded Sound Provenance
    The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum purchased digital copies of these sound recordings from the Library of Congress in March 2018.
    Recorded Sound Notes
    More information about Luise Rainer:
    https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/31/arts/luise-rainer-award-winning-actress-dies-at-104.html
    https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0707023/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
    http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-luise-rainer-20141230-story.html

    More information about I’M AN AMERICAN:
    https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/our-history/historians-mailbox/im-american
    https://www.npr.org/2017/10/16/557338355/im-an-american-radio-show-promoted-inclusion-before-world-war-ii
    Recorded Sound Source
    Library of Congress - Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division (MBRS)
    Record last modified:
    2024-02-21 07:30:12
    This page:
    http:​/​/collections.ushmm.org​/search​/catalog​/irn615678

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