The story of an early OSS operation where the US is trying to destroy German missile targets positioned in Nazi controlled France, which are aimed at the British coast. The mission depends on the operators finding Duclois, the French designer of the missile sites. The operation is led by Bob Sharkey, who is to train the right people to accomplish the job. One of those people, O'Connell, is actually a trained Nazi double agent Kuncel, who is to learn where and when the Allied Second Front is to take place. Despite given false information about the front, O'Connell discovers that he is suspected and kills Lassiter, the agent assigned to spy on him. Since he is the only person who knows the details of the original plan, Sharkey takes Lassiter's position, despite knowing that if he is caught, the Nazis will use any means to get information out of him. Very gritty, documentary style tale of counter intelligence in action. Hathaway creates much suspense and crafts the twists and turns into the story with no slow spots. Cagney abandons his Warner Brothers gangster persona, yet keeps his tough guy character in a role commanding authority. Fine support from Conte (very sinister as O'Connell/Kuncel), Annabella, Abel, and Jaffe. Rating, 9.
Review of 13 Rue Madeleine
