[.ca] Reunion in France

Wayne and Crawford in wartorn France:
Glossy, entertaining WWII era propaganda and the only time John Wayne and Joan Crawford appeared together in the same film. Not as good as CASABLANCA or MRS. MINIVER but still a must see for fans of films made about the war between the years 1939 and 1945. Keep an eye out for Natalie Schafer ("Mrs. Howell" from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND) as a pushy Nazi officer's wife and Ava Gardner as a salesgirl who says "Gutentag".

JOAN CRAWFORD TAKES ON THE NAZI OCCUPATION OF FRANCE...:
Entertaining, though slightly absurd, World War II story. Rich French woman (Joan Crawford) is madly in love with and engaged to rich French industrialist (Philip Dorn). She is a self indulgent society woman, until the war ravages the France she knew. Now, with France under Nazi occupation, her magnificent mansion in Paris in the hands of the German comquerors, her fiancee seemingly in the thrall of the Nazis, she sees the light and undergoes a change. A fervent patriot, she rejects the Nazis and, in doing so, rejects her fiancee. An injured American RAF pilot (John Wayne) accosts her on the streets of Paris one night and induces a surprised Joan Crawford to help him escape those whom he believes are following him. She does so, but it soon becomes paramount that he leave France. She turns for help to her by now estranged fiancee, whom she has spurned, because she perceived him as having collaborated with the enemy. To her surprise, he agrees to help her. The pilot's departure does not go according to plan, however, and Joan discovers that things are not always what they seem. Though the viewer will probably realize what is going on before Joan does, this does not take away from the enjoyment of what is clearly a war propaganda film. Philip Dorn is wonderful in the part of the rich French industrialist and Joan's fiancee. Joan is, as always, beautifully garbed in exquisite outfits and give an excellent performance. John Wayne is overshadowed by his co-stars and seems somewhat awkward in the part of the American RAF pilot. While the screenplay is somewhat unbelievable, it is an entertaining film, nonetheless. Joan Crawford fans and those who love classic films will surely enjoy it.

Glamour VS. the Nazis:
This movie is amazing in the sense that the studio would make a movie regarding the Nazi occupation of Paris and glamourize it. Crawford wore beautiful frocks throughout the movie, even while running from the Germans. It was basically a vehicle for Crawford to run around and look beautiful. The pairing of Wayne and Crawford seems odd even today, yet somehow the movie holds one's attention. It is interesting to see how Hollywood ran a proganda machine during WWII. If you are a diehard Joan Crawford fan, as I am, you will want to see this movie, but don't expect too much. This is not nearly in the league of Mildred Pierce or Sudden Fear.