Austrian Paul Henreid (in his American screen debut) is a French flier for the RAF shot down over Paris. Now he is trying to rescue himself and some other British fliers, while Gestapo officer Laird Cregar (who rejoices in the name of 'Funk' here) plays him like a cat with a mouse. Henreid is aided by priest Thomas Mitchell, schoolteacher May Robson (in her last screen role) and Michèle Morgan (also in her American debut), as a simple bar maid.
It's quite a cast under the direction of Robert Stevenson and quite entertaining -- RKO was a studio for producing foreboding thrillers. Still, as originally conceived, it might have been even more interesting; Duvivier was originally to direct, but left because of conflicts with the studio, and Jean Gabin was floated as the lead, or Robert Morley. Even so, the movie is entertaining, although no classic, even if it plays quite frequently on Turner Classic Movies.
It's quite a cast under the direction of Robert Stevenson and quite entertaining -- RKO was a studio for producing foreboding thrillers. Still, as originally conceived, it might have been even more interesting; Duvivier was originally to direct, but left because of conflicts with the studio, and Jean Gabin was floated as the lead, or Robert Morley. Even so, the movie is entertaining, although no classic, even if it plays quite frequently on Turner Classic Movies.