John Knittel's Swiss novel
Via Mala had been released in 1934 and become a major international success. The film rights were first acquired in 1941, but the period of production was lengthy and troubled. The screenplay by
Thea von Harbou was first submitted to the censor on 21 May 1941, but was not passed until 28 February 1942. The
Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels then halted the project because it was "too gloomy" It was revived a year later, and in 1943 filming began at the
Babelsberg Studios in
Berlin and
on location in
Mayrhofen in
Tyrol. A variety of further delays meant that the finished film was not ready until March 1944. This was still deemed unsatisfactory, and several scenes were re-shot. The ending moved away from that of the novel, where all family members except Silvelie were revealed to have taken part in the murder. It was finally submitted to the censor in January 1945. ==Release==