The Cross of Lorraine

United States

1943

90 Min

Black and White

1.37:1

English

Currently 3.0/5 Stars.
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SCR Michael Kanin, Ring Lardner Jr., Alexander Esway, Robert Hardy Andrews, Lilo Dammert, Robert Aisner, Hans Habe

CAST Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly, Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Whorf, Joseph Calleia, Peter Lorre, Hume Cronyn, William Roy, Tonio Selwart, Jack Lambert, Wallace Ford, Donald Curtis, Jack Edwards Jr., Richard Ryen, Frederick Giermann

MUSIC Bronisłau Kaper, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Eric Zeisl

With the onset of World War II, Frenchmen from all walks of life enlist in the army. The war is short-lived however as the Nazis quickly defeat them and Marshall Petain signs a peace agreement with the invaders. The troops surrender but rather that being repatriated to their homes as expected, they all find themselves in a military prison. Conditions are difficult with little food and poor medical conditions. The men resist as best they can and for some, like Paul, they are prepared to spend time in solitary confinement and be subjected to beatings if need be. For others, such as Duval, collaboration with their Nazi jailers is the route to an easier life. The men find solace in the company of Father Sebastian, a priest who was also in the army. He counsels them wisely and in the case of Paul, gives him strength to face the daily challenge of simply living. When Paul gets an opportunity however… —IMDb

Director

Tay Garnett

Tay Garnett (born William Taylor Garnett 13 June 1894 – 3 October 1977) was an American film director and writer.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Garnett served as a naval aviator in World War I and entered films as a screenwriter in 1920. He was a gagwriter for Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, then joined Pathé and began to direct films in 1928. Among his films are One Way Passage (1932), China Seas (1935), Eternally Yours (1939), Seven Sinners (1940), Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941), The Cross of Lorraine (1943), and Bataan (1943). He is best known as the director of the 1946 thriller The Postman Always Rings Twice with John Garfield and Lana Turner. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court (1949) with Bing Crosby and Rhonda Fleming was also well-received. Garnett also worked in radio as a writer, director and narrator. He created a show titled “Three Sheets to the Wind”(1942) which starred John Wayne as Dan O’Brien, an American private eye posing as a drunk on a luxury liner… read more