Paul Henried and Michele Morgan star in "Joan of Paris," a 1942 film also starring Laird Cregar, Thomas Mitchell and May Robson. Henried is a Frenchman wanted by the Gestapo who escapes to England and joins some British pilots. Flying into France, they are all shot down and separate. Henried, who plays Paul Lavallier, ends up hiding in the rooms of a café waitress Joan (Morgan), whose patron saint is Jeanne d'Arc. Joan and Paul fall in love, and she, with the help of a priest (Mitchell) get messages to the other pilots about plans for escape. All the while, a man trails Paul, and the Gestapo, headed up by Funk (Cregar) watches in hopes that he will lead him to the other men.
"Joan of Paris" marked the U.S. debut of Paul Henried and Michele Morgan, a lovely French actress. Henried is photographed very well and is excellent as Paul Lavallier, and Morgan plays the sweet, courageous and devoted Joan beautifully. The movie is very atmospheric; the black and white photography employs great use of shadows and darkness.
This is one of those films the studios cranked out that one doesn't hear much about, right up there with one of my personal World War II favorites, Escape - though this isn't quite as good. "Joan of Paris" has the advantage of attractive leads, great atmosphere and some marvelous performances, a standout being Laird Cregar as the suave but evil Funk. Unfortunately, Cregar would die at the age of 28, two years after this film. A huge man, a fine actor, and an out of the closet gay who wasn't afraid to bring gay overtones into a role, he was the chief villain at Twentieth Century Fox, actually scheduled to play Waldo Lydecker in "Laura." What a loss, as is obvious from this film. May Robson, in a small role, is also a standout. Alan Ladd plays one of the fighters, and instead of being a stalwart, hardboiled detective, he's allowed to act. Though his role is a small one, he makes an impression.
All in all, a wonderful film that TCM showed on Paul Henried's 100th birthday. Hopefully they will show it again.
"Joan of Paris" marked the U.S. debut of Paul Henried and Michele Morgan, a lovely French actress. Henried is photographed very well and is excellent as Paul Lavallier, and Morgan plays the sweet, courageous and devoted Joan beautifully. The movie is very atmospheric; the black and white photography employs great use of shadows and darkness.
This is one of those films the studios cranked out that one doesn't hear much about, right up there with one of my personal World War II favorites, Escape - though this isn't quite as good. "Joan of Paris" has the advantage of attractive leads, great atmosphere and some marvelous performances, a standout being Laird Cregar as the suave but evil Funk. Unfortunately, Cregar would die at the age of 28, two years after this film. A huge man, a fine actor, and an out of the closet gay who wasn't afraid to bring gay overtones into a role, he was the chief villain at Twentieth Century Fox, actually scheduled to play Waldo Lydecker in "Laura." What a loss, as is obvious from this film. May Robson, in a small role, is also a standout. Alan Ladd plays one of the fighters, and instead of being a stalwart, hardboiled detective, he's allowed to act. Though his role is a small one, he makes an impression.
All in all, a wonderful film that TCM showed on Paul Henried's 100th birthday. Hopefully they will show it again.