World premiere of the film 'The Diary of Anne Frank'

A Hollywood film version of the play was made by director George Stevens in 1958, with the following cast:

• Millie Perkins as Anne Frank
• Joseph Schildkraut as Otto Frank
• Gusti Huber as Edith Frank
• Diana Baker as Margot Frank
• Lou Jacobi as Hans van Daan
• Shelley Winters as Petronelles van Daan
• Richard Beymer as Peter van Daan
• Ed Wynn as Albert Dussel
• Douglas Spencer as Mr. Kraler
• Dody Heath as Miep Gies

The film's screenplay was based on the play The Diary of Anne Frank. The writing couple Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett wrote both the play and the film script. The film was partly shot in Amsterdam, but the interior of the Secret Annex was recreated as accurately as possible in a studio in Hollywood. Some actors from the play, including Joseph Schildkraut (Otto Frank), Gusti Huber (Edith Frank) and Lou Jacobi (Mr. Van Daan) also appeared in the film. Susan Strasberg, the actress who played Anne Frank in the play, did not want to reprise her role in the film. Otto Frank gunned for Audrey Hepburn as Anne Frank, but she turned down the role.^[1] Ultimately the role went to the young American fashion model Millie Perkins.

The American actress Shelley Winters plays the role of Mrs. Van Pels. In her memoirs she elaborates about the film. She recalls meeting Otto Frank: "One day about four months into the shooting, George Stevens annouced to us that we were having lunch with Mr. Otto Frank, the real Anne's father. He had never seen a production of the play; it would have been too difficult a thing for him to do. In fact, it was rather courageous for him to come and watch some of the filming that afternoon. We all had lunch with him in our costumes, shabby, smelly wartime Dutch clothes. He looked around the table at all the actors who were portraying his friends and family. He was trembling, and had tears in his eyes."^[2]

The film won three Oscars.^[3] Like the play, the film certainly contributed to the fame of The Diary of Anne Frank.