sadako1998 The POW movie is a genre that was at the height of it's popularity in the 1950/60's sometimes giving an amusing almost nostalgic gloss of the treatment of prisoners during WW2, therefore this movie (made in 1943) is an entertaining if somewhat historically dubious entry into the category.The movie opens just before France falls to the Germans in 1940, with a group of French soldiers rounded up and placed in a camp ran by the most sadastic Nazi's Hollywood conjure up, amongst them one of the 1940's favourite villain's Peter Lorre. The movie is gritty, the Nazi's gleefully watching the men tear each other apart over bread, shooting a Priest for praying or brutally kicking chained up men in the face. Seeing Gene Kelly's battered face, (effective and shocking make-up)what patriotic, moral human wouldn't want to spit a huge, gob of saliva in a Nazi's face or cheer when the hero stabs a Nazi in the throat. In fact some of the scenes were so shocking when the film was first shown, audiences walked out as the gore was just too much. Yet the movie was never charged with exaggeration as it was based on "A Thousand Shall Fall" by Hans Habe, himself a refugee from the Nazis.In reality, POW conditions of Western prisoners while not a holiday were tolerable, one character even shouts "this is not a concentration camp I have rights" but it is not in the interest of the producers to dwell on this or the Geneva Convention. The movie stirs patriotism from the minute La Marseillaise booms over the credits. Gene Kelly is effective, as a hot headed Frenchmen that refuses to bend to the rules. Hume Cronyn is suitably sleazy as a treacherous POW only wanting to serve his own interests while lead Aumont only serves as the moral voice of the story, his transgression from idealistic law student to a daring member of the Resistance not that realistic. Underused as always is Peter Lorre, who in the first few scenes is typically evil but latterly has a couple of the very few lighter moments as he smuggles contraband across the French border, making his character a little less two dimensional and it's a pity he wasn't used in more scenes.

edalweber The problem with this movie is that it, and others,tends to give an unreal picture of what the reaction of the population to enemy occupation was.Perhaps it exaggerated slightly in that it showed every last German to be a sadistic monster,which of course was not the case.Even in Japan, whose government and army actually encouraged brutality and sadism towards non-Japanese, there were decent, humane people.But there is no question that the occupation of unfortunate countries by both Germany and Japan was both harsh and cruel beyond belief.But as I said, the real problem was that it showed everyone rising up and striking back with violence.Satisfying, but unfortunately not practical under the circumstances."Burn down the town and retreat to the hills"?The Russians , with their huge country and vast areas of wilderness, could do that, but not people in the small, heavily populated countries of Europe.There was literally no place to run.This kind of thing didn't happen(until the Germans were retreating) not because the people were cowards, but because it would have been pointless and suicidal.It is insane to deliberately take action that will at best annoy the enemy but bring terrible disaster on yourselves and your family and countrymen.Costs always have to be balanced against possible results. The reality is that mostly people gritted their teeth,and resigned themselves to waiting as patiently as they could for the Germans to be defeated by superior force,avoiding provoking their occupiers any more than could be avoided,trying to keep their spirits up.Not spectacular movie heroism, but heroism nonetheless.

Michael O'Keefe Directed by Tay Garnett, who was a Naval pilot in WWI, this war drama has substance. French soldiers, believing that WWII is over, unwittingly surrender to German forces and are placed in a POW camp. A terrific and realistic look at being held prisoner under the thumb of the Nazis. A very good collection of talent featuring: Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly, Hume Cronyn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Peter Lorre, Wallace Ford and Richard Whorf.

Anne_Sharp If you thought World War II Hollywood war movies were all sweetness and Casablanca fans, just wait till you see this gut-wrenching little propaganda piece, which must have come out the week the censors were all in Palm Springs. Perhaps the most realistic Hollywood portrayal of life as a prisoner of the Nazis until "Schindler's List," it's also quite intelligent and extraordinarily well-played by an excellent cast. You don't know the meaning of shock until you've seen Gene Kelly spit a huge gob of real sputum onto Peter Lorre's face--and then wait till you see what comes next. It's not Captain Renault and the roulette table, dearie.