13 Rue Madeleine

13 Rue Madeleine
1947 - 20th Century Fox
Directed by Henry Hathaway



SYNOPSIS

Bob Sharkey (James Cagney) is training new members of the U.S. Army Intelligence (OSS) during the height of World War II. Some of his new recruits include Jeff Lassiter (Frank Lattimore) and Bill O'Connell (Richard Conte.) Sharkey's superiors inform him that one of his students is a German agent. He soon concludes it is O'Connell, but doesn't let the spy know he knows and assigns him to a mission, all the while feeding him misinformation about the coming invasion of France (D-Day.) O'Connell accompanies Lassiter and a female French coworker (Annabella) to capture a man who designed a German missile site. O'Connell cuts Lassiter's parachute, and he tumbles to his death. Sharkey follows them and completes the mission, rescuing the Frenchman, but not before getting captured. The Nazis take him to Gestapo headquarters at 13 Rue Madeleine in Le Havre, trying to find the location of the coming Allied invasion.

MY THOUGHTS

The film industry's war machine was still in full effect for several years after WW2 ended. This war film was one of dozens that the studios churned out recounting heroic tales of the conflict in the years following the war.

Though not a true story, the film was shot in a documentary style, using a narrator and was shot at many of the actual locations the story takes place. This gives it a very real effect. The dry documentary style rarely creates suspense or excitement (until the end) and the script lacks action, apart from a few small fights. The film starts out achingly slow in the training stages but picks up pace after the new officers move into their missions. The final 30 minutes move fast as the characters discover their fate.

The last 30 or so minutes show director Henry Hathaway's strengths as a director. He's one of the best of the unsung directors of Hollywood's golden age.

The real highlight is the performances.

Cagney is in great form as usual. His acting is more subdued and subtle than his fast talking gangster parts he's known, but just as charismatic. He's as patriotic as he was in "Yankee Doodle Dandy," just not as in-your-face about it.

Conte is also excellent. He acts like two totally different characters from his easygoing faux-trainee to his evil Nazi, and comes across very cunning and sinister in the latter.

Cagney, Conte and the others excel, even though the script did a poor job of fleshing out the characters.

Still, the film's deficiencies are no match for it's lead star. James Cagney can practically do no wrong playing tough guy characters. He lights up the screen, and makes what could have been a ho-hum film a delight to watch.