This is probably the greatest nun's story ever filmed. Barbara Britton is perfect as the nun who strictly keeps what she promises and follows her conscience whatever the price. Ray Milland is also perfect as the pilot, with a family back home with two children and a loved wife and who doesn't take any advantage of his rescuer but only enriches her experience and shares his love the only possible way. Lucile Watson is perfect as the mother superior refusing to deal with the Germans in any other way than what two earlier wars taught her. Walter Slezak makes one of his typical roles as a helpless victim of destiny, doing what he can to help the situation and only failing utterly.
The greatest asset, though, is the story, which is a triumph of war thriller intrigue mixed up with existential and moral issues, an occupational force testing the conscience of the victims. The film has been criticised for its one-sided view of the Nazis as thorough villains and bullies and nothing else, but any occupational force is like that. There has never been any exception. Their banditry adds tension and drama to the film, but that is not their only function. That's how they were. Ask any Frenchman.
A superb film and one of Frank Borzage's best. Surprised that it is not better known.
The greatest asset, though, is the story, which is a triumph of war thriller intrigue mixed up with existential and moral issues, an occupational force testing the conscience of the victims. The film has been criticised for its one-sided view of the Nazis as thorough villains and bullies and nothing else, but any occupational force is like that. There has never been any exception. Their banditry adds tension and drama to the film, but that is not their only function. That's how they were. Ask any Frenchman.
A superb film and one of Frank Borzage's best. Surprised that it is not better known.