Lillian Hellman moved out of TheLittle Foxes, a critique of capitalism, into the foxhole of internationalism inher play Watch on the Rhine, adapted for the screen by Dashiell Hammett. Here asouthern household, just outside of D.C., is "shaken out of themagnolias" as it becomes privy to the commitment and terrors of anti-fascistactivists. Bette Davis brings husband Paul Lukas, an underground leader, homefrom their nomadic European life to find her liberal family blissfully unaware ofthe true horrors of fascism in Europe, not to mention fifth-columnists at work intheir midst. Hellman's play was a wake-up call about the issue, but the filmcould later carry another subtle message, this one to HUAC: When asked his trade,Lukas's fiercely dedicated hero answers, "I fight against fascism"; andlater, "I must make my stand. I can do nothing else."