At a superficial level this could be dismissed as Pimpernel Smith with a French accent. Leslie Howard beat Noel-Noel to the punch and, if you have a mind to stretch comparisons, both actors were loved in their respective countries (although Howard, of course, was not English by birth). The French, of course, had a rich seam to mine in the shape of the Resistance which remains a sore point even now, more than half a century later and philosophers can spend hours debating which would be better, no Occupation means the French are spared untold suffering but movie-buffs lose out on classics like Armee de l'ombres. It's a braver man than I who would choose. Meanwhile here we have Rene Clement who would practically build an entire career out of World War Two with special regard to the Resistance. He burst on the scene as it were with Bataille du rail, a semi-documentary and followed with this screenplay by Noel-Noel himself who, the year previously, had enjoyed a personal triumph with La Cage aux rossignols, memorably re-made half a century later as Les Choristes. He takes the role well and the supporting cast, all totally unknown in England, complement him well. As a non-French person with no direct experience of the Occupation it is not for me to comment on anything other than the technical - writing, directing, acting - credits and, as I have intimated, I found them all up to snuff.
Review of Mr. Orchid
