Although Michele Morgan detested this, her first Hollywood film, and found leading man Paul Henreid cold, it was the only one of several films she made in Hollywood that scored at the box office. This was, in part, due to the timing, released early in 1942 shortly after Pearl Harbour, when America was beginning to realize the full impact of World War 2. It was also Henreid's first foray into Hollywood although in that same year he would also appear in Now, Voyager and, of course, Casablanca. Morgan had arrived in Hollywood in 1940 with a contract from RKO but they felt her English, though reasonable, was not good enough for the cameras so she marked time until Joan Of Paris. Already known in France for her beautiful eyes director Robert Stevenson ensures they get their share of close-ups in this melodrama about the Resistance in Paris - then unknown outside France. Henreid is a pilot flying for the RAF who is shot down with his crew of four, including Alad Ladd in a fairly substantial role pre-dating This Gun For Hire. Indeed the supporting cast is more than interesting for film buffs of the period; Thomas Mitchell as a priest, May Robson as a school teacher active in the Resistance, John Abbott, Laird Cregar, who almost steals the film, and even Bernard Gorcy in a cameo in the church. I'd never seen it before I found the DVD in a Paris remainder store and as a great Michele Morgan fan I'm glad I finally saw it.
Review of Joan of Paris
