13 RUE MADELEINE
US, 1946, 95 minutes, Black and white.
James Cagney, Annabella, Richard Conte, Frank Latimore, Walter Abel, Melville Cooper, Sam Jaffe.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
13 Rue Madeleine is a semi-documentary-style drama about espionage during World War Two. It focuses on the formation of the OSS, its training, infiltration by German spies, counter-espionage in feeding false information to the traitor and the unmasking of the traitor.
James Cagney has an interesting role as the leader of the team, a remove from his gangster-like characters. Richard Conte is the spy, giving an interesting performance as well, undercover, the traitor.
The film is material that was shown in quite a number of films of the period including the American OSS with Alan Ladd and Geraldine Fitzgerald. Subsequently, many films have been made about espionage during the war as well as tributes to those who worked undercover including Odette and Carve Her Name With Pride.
Director Henry Hathaway had a career of directing for over forty years. Beginning in the 1930s, he directed a number of action adventures including the first Technicolor western, Trail of the Lonesome Pine. He directed a number of action adventures also during the 40s but after the war a few semi-documentary films like this one and Call Northside 777 and The House on 92nd Street. He also made The Desert Fox, the story of Rommel, with James Mason. With the coming of Cinemascope he made colourful action adventures including Prince Valiant and Garden of Evil. He also directed John Wayne to his Oscar-winning performance in True Grit.
1. The impact of the film in 1946, now? The reason for the differences? Interesting, entertaining?
2. The film's semi-documentary style, black and white photography, attention to detail, times and post-World War II atmosphere? Response to this kind of semi-documentary feature? The film as propaganda?
3. The background of the war, the atmosphere, for Americans, the issues of World War II, the need for allied victory? The film’s fairness?
4. The atmosphere of war, the background for espionage, the issues of espionage, legality and morality? The stances that the film took? Their justification?
5. The documentary presentation of how people were chosen and selected for espionage work?
6. The importance of the details of training? Its demands, as hard, response of those involved? The atmosphere of the unknown, the dedication and patriotism?
7. The training of men and women and their varying roles? The effects on the character of each individually, as they worked with one another? For future use during actual espionage work?
8. Bob Sharkey, James Cagney's performance? Watching the processes through his eyes? The hero of the film? The reasons for his dedication and involvement? Relating with others?
9. The attention to the other characters? The credibility of these characters involved in espionage? The effect of training on them? Especially Bill O'Connell?
10. Audience interest in the mission, the immediate preparations and the details in England? landing in Europe? The threats and risks of the espionage work? The results of training and skill, violence?
11. The issues of traitors? The revelation Of Bill O'Connell? His character well developed? Audience response to the traitor?
12. The action sequences and their success for action drama?
