IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
After a career criminal is recaptured and knows he faces the guillotine, he offers to exchange his life for 100 hostages slated for execution by the Nazis.After a career criminal is recaptured and knows he faces the guillotine, he offers to exchange his life for 100 hostages slated for execution by the Nazis.After a career criminal is recaptured and knows he faces the guillotine, he offers to exchange his life for 100 hostages slated for execution by the Nazis.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
- Director
- Writers
- László Vadnay(screenplay)
- Max Brand(screenplay)
- Joe May(original story)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- László Vadnay(screenplay)
- Max Brand(screenplay)
- Joe May(original story)
- Stars
Videos1
Douglass Dumbrille
- Police Commissioner LaFargeas Police Commissioner LaFarge
- (as Douglas Dumbrille)
Felix Basch
- Gestapo Majoras Gestapo Major
- (uncredited)
Nora Bush
- Townswomanas Townswoman
- (uncredited)
James Carlisle
- Townsmanas Townsman
- (uncredited)
Wallis Clark
- Razeauas Razeau
- (uncredited)
Pedro de Cordoba
- Executioneras Executioner
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- László Vadnay(screenplay) (original story)
- Max Brand(screenplay)
- Joe May(original story)
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
- All cast & crew
Storyline
During WWII, in France, Jean Picard is a criminal who is about to be executed via the guillotine, but an air raid interrupts it and allows him to escape. Inspector Bonet tracks him down and brings him back. But along the way, they hear that a railway bridge vital to the Germans has been destroyed, supposedly by allied agents. The Germans take 100 Frenchmen and are threatening to execute them unless the saboteurs come forward. Picard who would rather die at the hands of the firing squad as opposed to the guillotine, offers to go to the Germans and say that he is the saboteur. Bonet accepts and so they go the village near where the bridge was to learn all that they can so that Picard can convince the Germans that he is the saboteur. While there Picard, a womanizer, meets a young woman and falls in love with her. —rcs0411@yahoo.com
- Taglines
- Not Before TODAY Could This Story Be Revealed...A Nameless Outcast Whose Crime Was Not a Crime...But an Act of Matchless Courage!
- Genres
- Certificate
- Approved
- Parents guide
Did you know
- TriviaErrol Flynn was criticized for playing heroes in World War II movies. Tony Thomas in his book 'Errol Flynn: The Spy Who Never Was' states that Flynn had tried to enlist in every branch of any armed services he could but was rejected as unfit for service on the grounds of his health. Flynn had a heart condition, tuberculosis, malaria and a back problem. Flynn felt he could contribute to America's war effort by appearing in such films as Edge of Darkness (1943); Northern Pursuit (1943); Dive Bomber (1941), Objective, Burma! (1945), and Uncertain Glory (1944). Reportedly, Flynn was at his most professional and co-operative he ever was whilst working on Second World War movies. The studios apparently did not diffuse the criticism of Flynn's state-of-health as they wished to keep it quiet for fear of his box-office draw waning.
- GoofsAbout 1:20 into the film, there is a scene where the French police are coming into the town at night. One, on a motorcycle, rounding a corner, seemingly slips on the wet cobblestones and crashes in front of the camera - the shadow of his head flashes across the bottom of the screen and the sound of his presumed crash can be heard.
- Quotes
Jean Picard: [indignantly to the barber just before he is to be sent to face the guillotine] My head comes off as it is!
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Adventures of Errol Flynn (2005)
- SoundtracksLa Marseillaise
(1792) (uncredited)
Music by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle
Variations in the score often
Top review
Against Type for Flynn and Walsh
Excellent Dramatics Nonetheless
This isn't a Typical Raoul Walsh or Errol Flynn Film. It is a rather Talky affair and Lacks the usual Walsh Energy and Flynn Plays a Criminal on Death Row.
Audiences certainly Didn't Want to See Their Favorite Costumed Adventurer as a Modern Thief/Murderer and although Flynn was Trying to Find Roles Outside His Bailiwick, everyone around the Studio Knew it was Box Office Poison.
But Errol Flynn, Despite His Charming Good Looks and Easy Going Manner, did Impress in this Against Type Portrayal. He Manages to Dominate the Screen and is entirely Convincing as a Man on the Run from the Law and Capital Punishment, Who has an Epiphany, Change of Heart, and has the chance to Turn Martyr/Hero and be Redeemed after all.
It is Never quite Certain in the Movie that He is Going to Go Through with the Sacrifice, but it really is quite Certain Considering. The Film manages to be Heartfelt and Suffering Most of the Time due to the Nazi Occupation and France's Predicament.
Paul Lukas leads a Good Supporting Cast. The Movie's Weakness is its rather Studio Bound Back Lot, but Rises Above that with some Striking Effect Shots and a Story that Intrigues.
One of Flynn's Best Dramatic Roles and Overall a Compelling Wartime Movie with a heavy Emphasis on Religious Involvement in Keeping with the Reality and Spirit of the then Contemporary Mind-Set.
Audiences certainly Didn't Want to See Their Favorite Costumed Adventurer as a Modern Thief/Murderer and although Flynn was Trying to Find Roles Outside His Bailiwick, everyone around the Studio Knew it was Box Office Poison.
But Errol Flynn, Despite His Charming Good Looks and Easy Going Manner, did Impress in this Against Type Portrayal. He Manages to Dominate the Screen and is entirely Convincing as a Man on the Run from the Law and Capital Punishment, Who has an Epiphany, Change of Heart, and has the chance to Turn Martyr/Hero and be Redeemed after all.
It is Never quite Certain in the Movie that He is Going to Go Through with the Sacrifice, but it really is quite Certain Considering. The Film manages to be Heartfelt and Suffering Most of the Time due to the Nazi Occupation and France's Predicament.
Paul Lukas leads a Good Supporting Cast. The Movie's Weakness is its rather Studio Bound Back Lot, but Rises Above that with some Striking Effect Shots and a Story that Intrigues.
One of Flynn's Best Dramatic Roles and Overall a Compelling Wartime Movie with a heavy Emphasis on Religious Involvement in Keeping with the Reality and Spirit of the then Contemporary Mind-Set.
helpful•30
- LeonLouisRicci
- May 25, 2015
Details
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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