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Biographical drama

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959): Cast, Ratings & Plot

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) movie poster

The Diary of Anne Frank is a 1959 biographical drama directed by George Stevens, starring Shelley Winters, Diane Baker and Millie Perkins. It is based on The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. It runs 3 hours. It won 3 Oscars, including Actress in a Supporting Role and Art Direction (Black-and-White). Critics gave it 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

IMDb rating
7.4/10
Oscars won
3
Metascore
59
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Watch the trailer Read the plot summary
The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) movie poster
Released
Runtime
3h (180 min)
Director
George Stevens
Genres
Biography , Drama , History , War
Original language
English
Studio
Twentieth Century Fox
Based on
The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett
After the credits
Yes Extra scene during or after the credits
The story

What Is The Diary of Anne Frank About?

The premise of The Diary of Anne Frank without spoilers, adapted from The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

During World War II in occupied Holland, a shopkeeper and his wife risk their lives to hide the Frank and Van Daan families in a concealed annex behind their business. For over two years, they live in fear and confinement, facing constant danger from the Nazis. Anne Frank’s poignant diary entries offer a deeply personal account of their experiences, exploring themes of hope, despair, and the complexities of human connection within the confines of their hidden existence, while also documenting her evolving relationship with Peter Van Daan.

The Diary of Anne Frank Themes & Keywords

· 46 tags
  • attic
  • diary
  • world war two
  • amsterdam netherlands
  • holocaust
  • based on true story
  • character name in title
  • suspicion
  • jew
  • pulitzer prize source
  • anti nazi
  • screenplay adapted by author
+34 more
  • original author as character
  • food
  • waiting
  • actor recreates his stage role
  • actress recreates her stage role
  • stevens and winters
  • girl
  • docudrama drama
  • dentist
  • nazi concentration camp
  • concentration camp
  • male female relationship
  • starvation
  • nazi occupied netherlands
  • survival
  • stealing food
  • german soldier
  • father daughter relationship
  • family relationships
  • religious persecution
  • radio
  • hideout
  • concentration camp survivor
  • adolescence
  • teen angst
  • anti semitism
  • first kiss
  • fur coat
  • sister sister relationship
  • loss of family
  • cat
  • hanukkah
  • air raid
  • based on play
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Cast & crew

The Diary of Anne Frank Cast

Shelley Winters leads the cast, with Diane Baker and Millie Perkins. Directed by George Stevens; 10 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Diary of Anne Frank

· 6 more
From the director

More from George Stevens

More films directed by George Stevens, best-rated first: Swing Time, Shane, Giant and A Place in the Sun.

Full filmography
Ratings

The Diary of Anne Frank Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Diary of Anne Frank 59 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.4/10.

Plot

The Diary of Anne Frank Plot Summary

What happens in The Diary of Anne Frank from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In 1945, Otto Frank returns to Amsterdam after the conclusion of World War II. Ascending the stairs to an empty attic, he is greeted by the comforting presence of Miep Gies and Mr. Kraler, dedicated office workers who had risked their lives to protect him and his family from the Nazis. As he embarks on a quest for his youngest daughter, Anne’s diary, Miep promptly retrieves it, providing Otto with solace as he reads Anne’s touching words penned three years earlier.

Full summary

The whole story of The Diary of Anne Frank, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Awards

The Diary of Anne Frank Awards & Nominations

The Diary of Anne Frank won 3 Oscars, including Actress in a Supporting Role and Art Direction (Black-and-White). Its biggest night was the Oscars 1960, with 3 wins from 8 nominations.

3 wins13 nominations3 ceremonies

Videos

The Diary of Anne Frank Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 1 trailer and 2 featurettes.

The Diary Of Anne Frank 1959 Trailer | Millie Perkins
  • Featurette The Diary of Anne Frank and Ben-Hur winning Art Direction: 1960 Oscars
  • Featurette The Diary of Anne Frank and Ben-Hur Win Cinematography: 1960 Oscars
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Diary of Anne Frank?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Who first discovers Anne's diary after the war?
Cars

Cars in The Diary of Anne Frank

2 cars on screen: the 1936 Ford V8 1½-Ton and the 1938 Opel Blitz 2,5-32.

  • 1936 Ford V8 1½-Ton in The Diary of Anne Frank 1936 Ford V8 1½-Ton Minor role
  • 1938 Opel Blitz 2,5-32 in The Diary of Anne Frank 1938 Opel Blitz 2,5-32 Minor role
Details

The Diary of Anne Frank Also Known As

21 alternative titles, including “O Diário de Anne Frank” and “To imerologio tis Annas Frank”.

Also known as
  • O Diário de Anne Frank
  • To imerologio tis Annas Frank
  • 안네의 일기
  • Het Dagboek van Anne Frank
  • Das Tagebuch der Anne Frank
  • Il diario di Anna Frank
  • El diario de Ana Frank
  • Le Journal d'Anne Frank
  • Anne Franks dagbog
  • Το Ημερολόγιο της Αννας Φρανκ
  • O Diário de Anne Frank (1959)
  • יומנה של אנה פרנק
+9 more
  • 安妮少女日记
  • Anna Frank naplója
  • Anne Franks dagbok
  • Anne Frank'in Hatıra Defteri
  • Deník Anny Frankové
  • Дневник Анны Франк
  • Pamiętnik Anny Frank
  • アンネの日記
  • Dnevnik Anne Frank

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From the blog

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Our article about The Diary of Anne Frank: “Analyzing the Role of Prop Design in Film”.

FAQ

The Diary of Anne Frank FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, the book behind it, awards and post-credit scenes of The Diary of Anne Frank, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Diary of Anne Frank?

The Diary of Anne Frank runs 3 hours (180 minutes).

When was The Diary of Anne Frank released?

The Diary of Anne Frank was released on March 18, 1959.

Who directed The Diary of Anne Frank?

The Diary of Anne Frank was directed by George Stevens.

More films by George Stevens

Who is in the cast of The Diary of Anne Frank?

The Diary of Anne Frank stars Shelley Winters, Diane Baker and Millie Perkins, among 10 credited actors.

How is The Diary of Anne Frank rated?

The Diary of Anne Frank has 7.4/10 on IMDb, 59 on Metacritic and 72% on TMDB.

Is The Diary of Anne Frank based on a book?

Yes. The Diary of Anne Frank is adapted from The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett.

What awards did The Diary of Anne Frank win?

The Diary of Anne Frank won 3 awards from 13 nominations, including Actress in a Supporting Role at the Oscars 1960.

Does The Diary of Anne Frank have a post-credit scene?

Yes. The Diary of Anne Frank has an extra scene during or after the credits, so it is worth staying seated.

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