In Paris, thief Jean Picard (Errol Flynn) loses his last appeal for a pardon. He is about to be executed when an Allied bombing raid sets him free. He is recaptured by Inspector Marcel Bonet (Paul Lukas). After a railroad bridge gets destroyed, the Nazis take 100 innocent Frenchmen hostage unless the saboteur surrenders himself within five days before the 100 are executed. Jean is willing to play the part rather than face the guillotine again.
I don't buy the premise from the start. Bonet would never trust Picard who is a proven liar and criminal. Picard would obviously get tortured by the Nazis to reveal his network. There is no reason why he wouldn't double-cross the inspector to the Nazis. The Nazis would probably set him free for uncovering a few sympathizers. The rest of the movie does construct around these difficulties. Of course, I understand the basic premise. Even the lowest of the low is willing to sacrifice everything to oppose the Nazis. It's a wartime film for a wartime audience. In that way, it is a very successful film.
I don't buy the premise from the start. Bonet would never trust Picard who is a proven liar and criminal. Picard would obviously get tortured by the Nazis to reveal his network. There is no reason why he wouldn't double-cross the inspector to the Nazis. The Nazis would probably set him free for uncovering a few sympathizers. The rest of the movie does construct around these difficulties. Of course, I understand the basic premise. Even the lowest of the low is willing to sacrifice everything to oppose the Nazis. It's a wartime film for a wartime audience. In that way, it is a very successful film.