Cross of Lorraine - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

'The Cross of Lorraine' is a 1943 war propoganda film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly, Sir. Cedric Hardwicke, Richard Whorf, Joseph Calleia, Peter Lorre and Hume Cronyn.


Partly based on the novel 'A Thousand Shall Fall' by Hans Habe, the film tells the story of French war prisoners who are sent to a brutal German prison camp, and their attempts to escape and join the French Resistance. 

War propaganda films of the 1940s

'The Cross of Lorraine' is one of many war propaganda films made in Hollywood during the early 1940s.  The purpose of the propaganda films were to explain why US involvement in a European war was important. This purpose of this particular film was to demonstrate to US film audiences the evil of the Nazi's, and the desperate plight for the French during the Nazi occupation of France.

The Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine is a two-barred cross, comprised of a long vertical line, crossed with two small horizontal bars. 
In France, the cross became the symbol for the French Resistance and the Free French Forces of World War II. It is representative of the liberation of France from Nazi Germany, led by Charles de Gaulle in 1942.

Closing remarks

'The Cross Of Lorraine' is one of the better war propaganda films of the 1940s. Even watching the film in 2012, the viewer gets a sense of the evil occupying France during the 1940s. Peter Lorre is perfectly cast as the evil Sgt. Berger. Jean-Pierre Aumont and Gene Kelly deliver fine dramatic performances as the two lead French prisoners Paul and Victor.

The Mask of Dimitrios - Star Birthday... Faye Emerson

Star birthday... Faye Emerson

Faye Emerson was born on 8 July 1917.  Starting her career as an actress, she appeared in many Warner Bros. films from 1941-1946.  In 1948, she moved to television, acting in a number of television shows before becoming a TV interviewer in her later years. She became known as "The First Lady of Television". After retiring in the 1960s, she moved to Spain where she spent the rest of her life. Faye Emerson died from stomach cancer on 9 March 1983 at age 65.

Recommended viewing

• Lady Gangster (1942)
• Between Two Worlds (1944)
• The Mask of Dimitrios (1944)
• Hotel Berlin (1945)
• Nobody Lives Forever (1946)

Mask of Dimitrios (1944)

'The Mask of Dimitrios' is a 1944 film noir, directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Sydney Greenstreet, Zachary Scott, Faye Emerson and Peter Lorre.

The screenplay by Frank Gruber is based on the novel, 'A Coffin for Dimitrios' by Eric Ambler, with the story told primarily using flashback.

Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet, always a great pair

While visiting Istanbul, Dutch mystery writer Cornelius Leyden (played by Lorre) learns of Dimitrios Makropoulos (played by Scott), a man whose body had just washed up on the beach. Leyden becomes fascinated by the story, and develops an obsession for finding out more about Dimitrios' story. He begins by tracking down people from Dimitrios' past including his ex-lover, Irana Preveza (played by Emerson) and the mysterious Mr. Peters (played by Greenstreet).

Did you know...

• This was Zachary Scott's film debut

Closing remarks

'The Mask of Dimitrios' is overall a good film to watch, however it can get a little slow and difficult to follow at times. It's predictable ending makes it an average entry into the film noir genre. As always, Greenstreet and Lorre make a great pair and carry the film until it's conclusion.