13 Rue Madeleine (1947)
Review by Dindrane
Film:
DVD:

Written by John Monks, Jr.
Directed by Henry Hathaway
Starring James Cagney, Richard Conte, Annabella, Frank Lattimore, Walter Abel, Melville Cooper, Sam Jaffee, and Red Buttons

Released by: Fox
Region: 1
Rating: NR, suitable for older teens
Anamorphic: N/A; appears in its original 1.33:1 format

My Advice: Buy it for your classic film collection

In 13 Rue Madeleine, Cagney plays an OSS instructor in the American intelligence agent training services during World War II. He learns from an old friend that one of his new students is a German spy, placed there to learn the identities of new agents and to learn what operations America has in Holland and France. Cagney must train these people while learning the identity of the spy, and then, once he knows, keep the secret, even if it costs the lives of other agents. Upon graduation from the school, Cagney and several new agents must accomplish their missions and keep the Gestapo from learning their plans, hopefully while staying alive. 13 Rue Madeleine is the address of the Gestapo during World War II in Paris, and it’s up to Cagney to keep them guessing.

This is truly one of the most unique war movies out there. The plot is suspenseful and creative; instead of focusing upon a single battle or the war, per se, this film focuses upon the intelligence missions that went on behind the scenes. The movie is darker than you might expect from an old movie, especially one released a mere couple of years after the war.

The acting is extraordinary. Cagney delivers a surprisingly tense and skillful performance as the intelligence operative turned teacher, as do Conte and the wide-eyed Lattimore. Annabella could have been given more to do to suit her contemporary French stardom, but is nonetheless a bright spot in an otherwise dark film.

The blend of newsreel footage and new film stock is masterfully done, as the director had pioneered this approach in previous movies and knows how to make stock footage work. The black and white film is understandably a bit grainy in places, but is still a pleasure to watch. The sound is similarly a bit muted overall, but still quite understandable and free of distortions and crackles.

The film lacks special features, which is a shame. Viewers would have loved to have seen additional newsreels, more stock footage, or even just a text write-up of the OSS, the French underground, or Nazi intelligence. Historians would jump at the chance to talk about their field of choice, and it would enrich our appreciation of what the characters went through, in comparison to reality.

13 Rue Madeleine is a strong film choice for anyone who enjoys taught thrillers, war movies in general, or just the history of World War II. It’s also a possibility for people who don’t usually like war movies; you will find yourself drawn into the plot, the characterization, and the splendid, touching acting.