Assignment in Brittany

Darryl Hickman is WAY down in the cast list, but he's about the only name i recognize. you'll also know Reginald Owen, the stately old gentleman in SO many huge films... he was never the lead, but an important co-star in so many great productions. check out his roles. In this war-time flicker, a frenchman poses as another office to locate a german submarine base. Jean-Pierre Aumont plays several roles.... to the french, he's a captain in the french army. then he parachutes to where "his" fiancee is, and must find the submarine base. the usual espionage shenanigans. darryl hickman was only 12 at this time, so he's just a boy. Sixteen years later, he'll be Dobie Gillis, in 1959, with his own television series. the war had another two years to go, so we see the rough sacrifices the villagers had to make repeatedly, to thwart the german troops. it's pretty good. some violence, as they gun down the innocent (and some not so innocent) towns-people. Directed by Jack Conway, who had also directed some incredible films.

This picture has the look and feel of a British film of the period, probably because it includes mainly actors who spent WWII in Hollywood under contract to MGM. Jean-Pierre Aumont and his colleagues show their previous training on stage through too large gestures and reactions. Also, the acting often looks as if war were a lot of fun.

Aumont is incredibly handsome but seems wasted in this two-dimensional portrayal of a Free French warrior. The picture no doubt bolstered the spirits of his fans, dramatizing the efforts of the Free French at a crucial time in history. Any authenticity in his character comes from the knowledge that he did indeed serve with the Free French, for which he was later decorated by the French government.

The best acting in the film is by the naturalistic Susan Peters and the classically trained Margaret Wycherly.

Nevertheless, the picture is worth seeing for its place in the history of movie making.

I can't remember the exact year, but my mother and I were invited to an evening at the Uptown Theatre in Toronto, Ontario for a special screening of Assignment in Brittany in aid of the Free French movement. It was a very exciting time for me, and Jean Pierre Aumont was there in person. I was 14 or 15 at the time, and I have never forgot the evening. Our tickets were a gift from a french teacher at the Cental High School of Commerce. It was a gala evening, in spite of the fact that war was raging in Europe and the Pacific. I was of an age when I was entranced by movie stars, and to see Mr. Aumont in person was a dream come true.

I wonder if there are others who attended that show. Mr. Aumont was introduced, and spoke at length about the Free French movement, and encouraged donations to support them. I enjoyed the picture very much, as did my mother. There was a reception after the screening, where we were introduced to Mr. Aumont, a very gracious man. Perhaps it was the fact that the war had been on for it seemed forever, and the picture showed what ordinary citizens could do to help defeat the enemy. Certainly, although we did not suffer the devastation of actually being occupied or bombed, we were well aware of the loss of our dear family and friends. There were many films made about the war but this seemed special because of the appearance of people who had direct connection with the Free French movement, and we were hearing about it first hand.

Solid story, I think well done and paced nicely for modern sensibilities even. Dramatic scenes jump to quite harrowing action without warning, and play out realistically. A relatively simple, high-stakes spy/war plot, clearly resolved. Nice bits of play acting, being discovered, double agents, etc. etc.

Some here complain about the acting, but I thought it all worked great, and the supporting cast really held up their end; even people on screen for two minutes seem real, and to be motivated by actual emotion.

Not a great transfer, and hard to watch but I caught it on TCM. Nicely done sets, and mostly works within the confines of budget by keeping things indoors and at night. The few outdoor scenes (especially those in the day) are a bit lame in the backlot/studio way they were, but that's about the only flaw I can find in it.

Pierre Metard (Jean-Pierre Aumont) is a Captain in the Free French forces. He sneaks behind enemy lines to wreck havoc among the Nazis. He gets loaned out to the British. He takes on the identity of captured suspected Nazi collaborator Bertrand Corlay to find a hidden U-boat base on the French coast.

I don't know this actor other than a few roles which I barely remember. It is interesting to use a Frenchman. He actually fits the role. Some of this is very compelling, but some of it feels unrealistic. The last battle is big and Rambo-esque. There is one thing that really bugs me. When the girl starts singing, there are several cuts to each character turning their heads to camera. These are big dramatic hair-flipping turns that take me right out of the movie. It's one of those sour note moments.