Anvilicious: Fascism is bad. Collaborating with fascists is bad. Betraying your friends for personal gain is bad.
Slow-Paced Beginning: The first half of the book is, basically, a detailed history of theater in Weimar Germany. The main plot — Hoefgen's relationship with the Nazis — doesn't kick in until Chapter Seven.
Values Dissonance: Juliette's portrayal is easily the most problematic part of the book, as Mann harps on her being descended from an African tribal chief, her deep voice and dark, "animal-like" appearance. The movie averts this by making her a more rounded and sympathetic character and avoiding the racist descriptions of her appearance.
