PARIS UNDERGROUND/ MADAM PIMPERNEL
US, 1945, 97 minutes, Black-and-white.
Constance Bennett, Gracie Fields, George Rigaud, Kurt Kreuger, Leslie Vincent, Charles Andre.
Directed by Gregory Ratoff.
During World War II, there are quite a number of dramas featuring stories of the resistance, Michelle Morgan in Joan of Paris, Jean- Pierre Aumont and Gene Kelly in Cross of Lorraine, both featuring priests played by Thomas Mitchell and Cedric Hardwicke respectively.
This film opens with the Germans advancing on Paris and the population fleeing. The focus is on an American, married to a Frenchman, the marriage rather brittle. She is played by Constance Bennett who actually acted as producer of the film. Kitty has a very British friend, played by the very British Gracie Fields, acting rather than singing as she did in so many of her star vehicles. Kitty delays the departure from Paris by train and they have to drive, getting caught up in the refugees, taking a side road, being apprehended by the Germans and sent back to Paris.
The main drama is in their being asked to help the young British flyer, taking him to Paris, concealing him in the apartment, the German searching for him but their finding a way with the Resistance to take him to the town near the border with the Free Zone and get him across. In fact, there are able to do this for over 200 flyers. And, as with the other films, there is a priest who assists in helping the flyers with the Resistance.
Eventually, the women are apprehended by the Germans, imprisoned and a scene at the end of the film languishing in jail cages, abandoned by the Germans with the Americans coming in with the liberation of Paris.
Eventually, the women are awarded medals of honour by the French government in the person of Kitty’s husband.
The British title of the film was Madam Pimpernel – with nods to the Scarlet Pimpernel and his ability for misleading authorities by his foppish behaviour and, behind the scenes, affecting escapes during the French Revolution.
1. The titles of the film? The fact of the Paris underground during World War II? The suggestions of the Scarlet Pimpernel, disguise, yet rescue work?
2. An American production, French settings, the place of the British, in occupied France, flyers and their rescue? Morale boosting? Yet the liberation of France and the film as a tribute to the war effort?
3. Kitty, separation from her husband, her easy way of life, not believing the Germans would occupy Paris? Her decision to leave? Her friendship with Emmy? British? Her delaying, the phone call to the embassy, the car, caught in the refugees from the city, impatient, on the side road, the encounter with the Germans, directed back to Paris?
4. The encounter with the British flyer, the decision to shield him, in the car, under the suitcases? The encounter with the German officer? His charm? Getting the flyer into the apartments, the role of the landlady?? The visit of the Germans, the thorough search, hiding in the fireplace?
5. The border to the Free Zone? The baker, the money, helping with the flyer, getting across the river? The women, going back to Paris, the decision to become involved, the advertisements, the encounter with the priest, the flyers in the basement, picking straws, going back to the town? The undertaker, the mayor, the clergy, using the conference to get the flyers to freedom? The women deciding to stay rather than escape?
6. The priest, involvement in the underground, the flyers in the cellar? His helping the women, their not escaping?
7. Kitty, going out with the German officer, dancing, the encounter with her husband, his work in the foreign office, his return to Paris, helping Kitty with the soldier?
8. Emmy, British, tough, yet nervous? Her agreement, working with Kitty?
9. The Germans arriving, the hostility of the officer, the search of the apartment, the husband and his escape, Emmy and her being arrested, interrogated, Kitty come out in coming out of the basement, to help Emmy?
10. The years of their imprisonment, the cells fall of women, the freedom, the Americans, Emmy refusing to give information, Kitty finding out, their reunion?
11. The patriotic scene at the end and their being awarded the metals were heroism? And Kitty’s husband and their being reunited?
