MovieChat Forums > Passage to Marseille (1944) Discussion > Not very good. Interesting the 'flashbac...

Not very good. Interesting the 'flashbacks' but not much else!

posted 13 years ago by jsrrtzjr10
6 replies | jump to latest

1. Phony French patriotism, almost laughable. Especially the French kid on the boat. Or the officer played by Claude Rains with his ridiculous "rendition" by reading the suppose letter. Rather laughable!
2. Not one of Bogart's best role. Killing unharmed Germans I can understand but remember, it is fictional. Just acting all these guys. And Lorre's worst role for one I can remember him in such great classics like the German "M", and "Mr Moto" roles.
3. France NEVER carried out massive air raids against Nazi Germany. Some French airmen did volunteer in the British RAF to firebomb Nazi Germany. Free French Air Force did carry out some raids in Northern Africa and Italy. And a few fighter planes flew over Nazi Germany in the last days of the war, but not much else.
4. I doubt a French officer will be trusting enough to give a key of his room to a man he has never seen before, unless he is some idiot. Better stay with "Casablanca" and "Flying Tigers" with John Wayne.]
5. "Devil's Island" was already being phase out, interrupted by World War II, by the time this movie was made. And its worse time was from 1850s to the 1920s. By the 1930s, many prisoners were freed and allow to own lands and make a living from it as a "humanitarian gesture".
6. Nazi Germany already had electronic radars for air defense by 1941.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] jsrrtzjr10 12 years ago

I always respected Peter Lorre. But the script of this movie makes him look a little bit ridiculous!

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] ajgenard 11 years ago

I'll have to disagree. If you can overlook the historical inaccuracies due to artistic license and realize this film was primarily wartime propaganda, it's actually pretty good. It's always unfair to filmmakers who are trying to tell a good story when people go around fact-checking every aspect of a film - especially one intended to garner support for defeating an evil power. I actually found Peter Lorre as enthralling as always. The "flashback within a flashback within a flashback" turned out to be a pretty slick device that impressed me. I only have 2 criticisms for this movie: some parts (namely Matrac's backstory) drag on a bit too long and I had a REALLY tough time buying Humphrey Bogart as a Frenchman. He was definitely miscast and on top of that there's not even a hint of an accent in his uniquely American voice.

[–] jsrrtzjr10 11 years ago

German nazis were the bad guys. No doubt about it. But you don't make them "more bad" by making such a ridiculous movie. But it was made in the war. No wonder.

[–] MrEdnablackadder 9 years ago

This kind of propaganda films don't hold up well these days. Pity considering all talent involved. None of the actors could really shine in this, with Morgan standing out as being particularly wasted as the poor, good-hearted wife fetching birthday cake for her son (just like in most of her Hollywood movies anyway).