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.

Pilot #5 - Star of the month... Gene Kelly

'Pilot #5' is a 1943 propaganda war drama directed by George Sydney and starring Franchot Tone, Marsha Hunt, Gene Kelly and Van Johnson.

When five pilots volunteer to fly the only remaining plane to bomb a Japanese aircraft carrier, the Dutch Commander Major Eichel (played by Steven Geray) must choose a suitable candidate. Pilot #5 George Collins (played by Tone) is selected for the dangerous mission. The rest of the film is told in flashback as the remaining four pilots reminisce on their memories of George Collins. 

Did you know...

• This was Gene Kelly's first non-musical dramatic role
• Peter Lawford appears briefly at the beginning of the film
• Ava Garnder is featured as an extra in the film

Closing remarks

Average war propaganda b-film. Fortunately a very short film, it has the ability to entertain but only just. Recommended viewing for fans of Gene Kelly and Van Johnson only.

They Died With Their Boots On (1941) - Star of the month... Olivia de Havilland

They Died With Their Boots On is a 1941 western directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland in their eighth and last film together. The supporting cast features Arthur Kennedy, Sydney Greenstreet, Charley Grapewin, Gene Lockhart, Anthony Quinn, John Litel, Regis Toomey and Hattie McDaniel.

Hattie McDaniel with Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland

The film tells the historically inaccurate story of George Armstrong Cutler (played by Flynn), beginning with his time spent at West Point Military Academy, meeting and wooing his future wife, Elizabeth Bacon (played by de Havilland), his time in the American Civil War and the Battle of Little Big Horn against native Americans of the Black Hills of Dakota.


Although the film is not a comedy, the first half is staged as a comedy, with lots of humour and laughs. The second half of the film is much darker and dramatic. This can be seen as representative of the maturity of George Cutler.  As he misbehaves immaturely at West Point, the film is comic; when he goes off to war and becomes an inspiring leader, the film becoems more serious.

Did you know...

• This film is sometimes shown on TV in a computer coloured version
• The film was originally meant to be directed by Michael Curtiz, however Errol Flynn had enough of his direction after their previous film 'Dive Bomber'
• Two extras were killed during the filming of Cutler's Last Stand - one untrained rider, George Murphy, died in a fall from a horse; and another Jack Budlong, fell of a horse and was wounded by a prop sword
• The song "Garryowen" played throughout the film was a real favourite song of the real George Cutler
• This was the last of eight films Olivia de Havilland and Errol Flynn starred together - although they would both later appear in the musical film 'Thank Your Lucky Stars', they did not appear together

Closing remarks

When I first heard this film was a war/western and runs almost 2.5 hours, I was expecting it to be very slow and a little boring. However I was pleasantly surprised to find 'They Died With Their Boots On' a very enjoyable spectator experience.  Playing the first half of the film as a comedy gives the relief the story needs before the war climax picks up. As always, Olivia de Havilland is lovely as Mrs. Cutler and the film features one of Max Steiner's best musical scores. Another actress I would like to mention is the great Hattie McDaniel, who steals every scene she's in as the Bacon's maid.