13 Rue Madeleine

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

This film is not only a revealing glimpse into the workings of the O.S.S. (Office of Strategic Services) during WW II, but it is also a full-fledged spy thriller. An excellent cast includes James Cagney, Karl Malden, E.G. Marshall, and Red Buttons. Cagney stars as an O.S.S. training officer, bent upon discovering a German traitor within his ranks while at the same time completing highly dangerous espionage assignments. The risks increase when one of his men is murdered from within, and Cagney, convinced he knows who the murdering infiltrator is, vows revenge. Authentic O.S.S. film footage make this film historically significant as well as entertaining. ~ Rovi

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 1
• Screen: Black and White
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital
• Features:
  • cc
  • [None specified]

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       James Cagney - Bob Sharkey
       Annabella - Suzanne de Bouchard
       Richard Conte - Bill O'Connell
       Frank Latimore - Jeff Lassiter
       Walter Abel - Charles Gibson
       Melville Cooper - Pappy Simpson
       James Craven - R.A.F. Officer
       Richard H. Gordon - Psychiatrist
       Alexander Kirkland - Briefing Officer
       Alfred Linder - Hans Feinkl
       Ben Low - Hotel Clerk
       Don Randolph - LaRoche
       Marcel Rousseau - Duclois
       Blanche Yurka - Mme. Thillot
       Peter Von Zerneck - Karl
       Albert D'Arno

• Director:

  Henry Hathaway

• Producer:

  Louis de Rochemont

• Screenwriter:

  Sy Bartlett, John Monks, Jr.

• Cinematographer:

  Norbert F. Brodin

• Composer (Music Score):

  David Buttolph

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  David Buttolph

• Composer (Music Score):

  Alfred Newman

• Musical Direction/Supervision:

  Alfred Newman

• Editor:

  Harmon Jones

• Art Director:

  James Basevi, Maurice Ransford, Lyle Wheeler

• Set Designer:

  Thomas K. Little

• Costume Designer:

  Rene Hubert

• Makeup:

  Ben Nye, Sr.

• Special Effects:

  Fred Sersen

• Casting:

  Meyer Mishkin

REVIEW:

• 13 Rue Madeleine is never as gripping and thrilling a spy story as one may want, but it's serviceable and mildly engaging -- certainly worth a viewing by those who enjoy espionage tales. Modern audiences will probably be amused by the somewhat stiff documentary-style voice-overs that introduce the film, and there's something "square" about the entire enterprise, but these flaws don't seriously detract from the film. What is a bit more of a problem is the lack of real suspense. The audience is clued in on many important developments too early, almost as if director Henry Hathaway felt as if he couldn't string the viewer along and let the tension build up in any one sequence for too long. Things, therefore, are presented a little too straightforwardly for this kind of film, and this dampens its ultimate impact. Fortunately, Madeleine has a very fine cast to keep the viewer's interest, lead by the solid, persuasive performance of James Cagney. Frank Latimore is a bit amateurish as Lassiter, but he's the only real weak link. The real O.S.S. footage is also a plus, especially for history buffs. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi