Reunion in France (1942)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writers:

Leslie Bush-Fekete (story)
Jan Lustig (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1942 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | War

Tagline:

WHAT A THRILL! Startling drama of a stranded Yankee flyer and a Parisian beauty!

Plot:

Frenchwoman Michele de la Becque, an opponent of the Nazis in German-occupied Paris, hides a downed American flyer...

Plot Keywords:

Nazi | Paris | Hotel | Train | Gestapo

Cast

Joan Crawford	...	Michelle 'Mike' de la Becque
John Wayne	...	Pat Talbot
Philip Dorn	...	Robert Cortot
Reginald Owen	...	Schultz, Gestapo agent. assumed name of Pinkum
Albert Bassermann	...	General Hugo Schroeder
John Carradine	...	Ulrich Windler, head of Gestapo in Paris
Anne Ayars	...	Juliette Pinot (as Ann Ayars)
J. Edward Bromberg	...	Durand, a French policeman
Moroni Olsen	...	Paul Grebeau
Henry Daniell	...	Emile Fleuron
Howard Da Silva	...	Anton Stregel, Gestapo agent
Charles Arnt	...	Honore, Robert's butler
Morris Ankrum	...	Martin
Edith Evanson	...	Genevieve
Ernst Deutsch	...	Captain occupying Michelle's house (as Ernest Dorian)

Also Known As:

Mademoiselle France (UK)
Reunion

Runtime:

104 min | USA:99 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #8877) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Company:

Loew's

Trivia:

Keenan Wynn was listed in an early production chart as a cast member, and Hans Conried was in a news item as a cast member, but neither were in the final release print.

Quotes:

Michelle 'Mike' de la Becque: There is something you and/or the German army can do. Nevermind, I'm sure it's punishable by death.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Xtro (1983)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 5 in C Minor

Starts out strong

I was enjoying this movie very much until John Wayne arrived on the scene. Suddenly, after his arrival the movie breaks down and becomes a mess of clichés and silliness. The first half dealing with France being occupied, and how it impacted the lives of the French was quite interesting. The Nazi's of course were portrayed as inept, bumbling idiots. One can't help but notice that in this movie, Joan has perfected her definitive "Joan Crawford" look. The hair, the look, the clothes all come together here. Too bad the movie couldn't stay on track, but I guess Joan did need at least two lovers per movie. The chemistry between Joan and John works, but John looks like he'd rather be lassoing wild horses than capturing Nazi's!