22 Mar The Cross of Lorraine
The Cross of Lorraine, WWII movie starring Gene Kelly
(1943) This movie was obviously made as a tribute to the Free French forces who were fighting against the Nazis. It was based on a book, “A Thousand Shall Fall” by Hans Habe about his experiences in the French Foreign Legion (although in World War I.)
A group of French soldiers are captured by the Germans and told that if they surrendered peacefully they would be sent home. Instead, they find themselves in a prison camp where none other than Peter Lorre is one of their most sinister captors. Hume Cronyn plays a great part as the prisoner who curries favor from the Germans.
I enjoyed watching the French actor Jean-Pierre Aumont. And then there was Gene Kelly who played one of the French soldiers. I had just seen him in Thousands Cheer, and I have to say I liked him much better in the musical. Somehow in this film he just didn’t come across for me.
For 1943, this was a harsh depiction of the Nazis (not harsh enough as the years would show!) and it did show how much the French people suffered.
Cross of Lorraine at amazon.com
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