Joan of Paris (1942)

During WWII, Hollywood made something like 3791354912 war-time propaganda films (give or take three). And, since I have seen an awful lot of them, this would seem to fall into the 'average' category. The acting and production values are quite nice and the script is decent and does a good job of making Americans love their comrades, the French. But, I must admit, that it didn't particularly stand out for me either among all these other films.The film begins with some Allied fliers getting stuck in Nazi-controlled France. Among these are their leader (Paul Henreid--who has yet another strong acting performance) and one miserable guy who is injured--Alan Ladd in a role just before he hit stardom with films like "This Gun for Hire", "The Glass Key" and "Lucky Jordan". Remarkably, all four of these films came out in 1942 and it was indeed a banner year for the young actor. Back to the story. The men are stuck and need help from the locals. Some are not patriots and refuse, some (such as the one annoying little boy) talked about how great the Vichy government (the pro-Nazi one in the South) was and some decided to risk anything to help (and this included Michele Morgan--who actually was French).This is an odd propaganda film, as I actually think the film didn't go far enough in demonizing the Nazis. After all, they were Nazis!! Now I am not saying they were nice here, but the film did a good job of not overdoing it like many propaganda films. Overall, a very good story with an interesting parallel to the life of Joan of Arc--which, from the title, was obviously intended. Worth seeing---just don't rush to do so.Alan Ladd--and with RKO

The only way I was able to obtain a DVD of this film directed by Robert Stevenson, a particular favourite of mine, was to order it from French Amazon. Because the subject is Paris under the Nazis, it appeals to our Gallic friends, and they are the only ones who sell it (Editions Montparnasse, as part of their RKO classics series). Stevenson directed this the year before JANE EYRE (1943). It is not one of his most inspired films, but it is robust and impressive, and good viewing. The film works because of the sheer professionalism of Paul Henreid as the lead and the amazing screen presence of the 22 year-old French actress, Michele Morgan. They click as a couple. As the film was made in wartime, Paris obviously could not be used as a location, so a great deal of trouble was taken to try to show Paris without showing Paris. A huge effort by the plasterers went into producing a replica of the west door of Notre Dame Cathedral, even though we glimpse it only for a few seconds as Paul Henreid flits by it, glancing nervously about him to see if he is being followed, since Gestapo agents are everywhere, and they are after him, as he is a Free French flyer who has been shot down on a flight from London. He encounters Michele Morgan by accident, and she falls for him. She is a simple shop girl who has never had a relationship before. Rarely was there a young actress who could look up lovingly into the eyes of a male lead in a film with as wide-eyed and innocent a look at Michele Morgan. From being a sweet and gentle little thing who couldn't harm a fly, she ends up a heroine who joins the Resistance, hence she is called 'Jeanne de Paris', giving the film its title. It was a good wartime yarn to boost morale and remind people outside France that not everyone in Paris was a collaborator, though God knows there were enough of those. Laird Cregar (who died tragically two years later, aged only 31) does a sinister job of playing 'Herr Funck', the head of the Paris Gestapo, a chess player and oily schemer. He locates Henreid but decides to let him continue his contacts before 'wheeling him in on his string when the time is right'. This tactic may sound far-fetched but it was precisely the tactic used in the 1930s by Heydrich and Himmler when they were running the Special Security Department of the Reichs Fuehrer SS (Himmler) but were unsatisfied with that and wished to seize control of the Gestapo, which had been founded by their rival Goering. They identified and located two communist agents who were well advanced in a serious plot to assassinate Goering. Instead of informing Goering or his Gestapo, they risked Goering's life (which frankly did not bother them) to score the coup of becoming the ones to save his life under the uninformed nose of his own deputy, Diels. They just pulled this off, which humiliated and disgraced Diels, so that he lost his job, and they ended up taking over the Gestapo because they had proved their superior brilliance and competence. This story was already well known by 'those in the know' amongst the Allies by the time the script for this film was written, and that plot element was probably inspired by the earlier real event in Germany. The scenes set in the Paris sewers were done in the studio with great care, and I was amazed that a great pool of swirling sewage was lovingly created so that we could glimpse it in the background. Perhaps it was meant as a portrait of the mentality of the Nazi occupiers. Or would that be flattering them? Ultimately, this film derives its charm from Henreid and Morgan, and that is the reason for searching it out and seeing it.

An under-rated but excellent film is 1942's "Joan of Paris."While it is still another World War 11 story of allied soldiers, trying to get back to their homeland from an occupied France, it is certainly worth seeing.The acting by Michele Morgan, Paul Henried and Thomas Mitchell is first rate.Cornered by the Gestapo, Morgan acts like the true Joan of Arc.May Robson, who was so good in "Lady for A Day," shines this time in a supporting role, as an elderly teacher who is also a member of the French resistance. Look for a young Alan Ladd is a brief but pivotal role as one of the group of soldiers.Just as we saw in Casablanca, the year after this film, there is a memorable scene; this time children are singing the Marseilles at a time of adversity.Obviously, the film is timely as it was made during the war when the free French fought alongside the British to combat the Nazi menace.

This is a beautifully made, written and directed movie. Paul Henreid (you may remember him from Now Voyager lighting the two cigarettes for himself and Bette Davis - or in Casablanca as the Czech resistance figure with Ingrid Bergman whom she is helping to escape the Continent to fight again) is very moving and believable as a French squadron leader based in England with the Free French forces.Henreid always comes off well in European roles - he SEEMS foreign, very romantic in a rather exotic Continental manner.He and four other fighter pilots based in England were clearing the way for the first British bombing raids on Germany, when they were shot down over France. They are trying to return to England via Paris (where Henreid's childhood teacher is now the dean of a cathedral and may help) - but only if they can contact British intelligence agents whom they must first identify and try to locate. Even with the help of the British intelligence and French secret agents, they must then evade the Gestapo that haunts Henreid's path through Paris.Henreid meets and is harbored by Michelle Morgan playing the title character, and who only gradually comes to understand who Henreid is. The simplicity, modesty, and religious and romantic nature of her barmaid are shown so lovingly. She falls in love very quickly - yet this seems completely a part of this girl's makeup - throughout you sense the enormity of this one great thing in this girl of poverty who lives alone on the top floor, above the cafe, with her tiny shrine to Joan of Arc.The sets are astonishing - one feels as if one really is in Paris and one of its great cathedrals, in its sewers, its steam baths, its cafes.Henreid's attempts to lose the Gestapo agent (a "postage stamp" sticking to him) is suspenseful and imaginative - a wonderful game of cat and mouse throughout Paris to join his comrades.The movie is extremely and wonderfully romantic - the discourse of the two lovers - one doomed - is terribly moving and painful. I rented this one week, and could not resist renting it again when I entered the store.This is a wonderful and underrated movie.