1962's "The Red Culottes" (Les Culottes Rouges) tells the story of French POWs during World War II, the title referring to those unlucky escapees who failed and were forced to wear red trousers as identification. One strong willed prisoner (Laurent Terzieff) finally succeeds on his 7th try, this time accompanied by a spineless associate (Bourvil), but it won't be long before each one turns on the other to try to save himself. Critics complained that the oft told storyline had been done better before yet couldn't exactly specify, and while this rarity survives today it's available only in French with no English subtitles. Just how a war picture ended up on the 1969 schedule for Pittsburgh's Chiller Theater is anyone's guess, undoubtedly dubbed in English and likely a long lost effort.
Review of Les culottes rouges
