A prince flees Austria when the Nazis take over and settles in London. He encounters a beautiful Austrian émigré who makes him realize his mistake in leaving. He strikes a deal with the Nazis to return in exchange for some Austrian prisoners, but discovers that the Nazis are not to be trusted.
A The Hollywood Reporter article, toward the end of production, reported that Charles Vidor took over from director James Whale, who had fallen ill with the flu. Later, reports of difficulties on set surfaced, including allegations that Whale was abusive toward the cast.[2] Writer Charles Bennett blamed Columbia head Harry Cohn, speculating about a personality conflict and saying that the firing was "... utterly ridiculous, because James Whale was a magnificent director."[3]
They Dare Not Love was Whale's last completed film. He directed a segment of the 1952 RKO film Face to Face, "Hello Out There", but it was not included in the released film.[4]
Critical reception
The New York Times wrote, "with all the proved talent Columbia put behind the manufacture of They Dare Not Love it is hard to understand why the new film at Loew's State should turn out to be the disappointment it is. Granting that James Whale's direction is pedestrian, that the performances of Martha Scott, George Brent and Paul Lukas are no better, we still feel that the root of all evil in this case sprouted back in the story department presided over by Charles Bennett, Ernest Vajda and James Edward Grant. Though the plot they whipped up probably is no more fantastic than some of the things happening in the world today it does not rouse either one's imagination or emotions ... They Dare Not Love is vapid fare."[5]
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