Description: 1943: RAF Sergeant Dougall tells a Free French Deuxième Bureau officer in London the story of his escape through France (film alternates between the interview and the events described). A fellow escapee, Stephan, contacts the resistance in Rheims; the two are passed through various contacts to a farm where Dougall wins (amicably) the only available place in a plane pick-up; the entire escape passes impressively smoothly. The officer surprises Dougall by knowing Stephan had asked Dougall to post a letter in London, and asks for the address; Dougall is reluctant to "break a confidence". The officer then reveals that 'Stephan' was in fact a Gestapo agent, willing to use a true escape (and indeed to kill a minor collaborationist SOL agent) to establish credentials and so uncover real Resistance agents. Telling the other side of the escape, the officer finally reveals that Stephan himself shot the farmer's daughter (for whom Dougall felt some attraction). The Resistance is now in control again in France, but only Dougall knows the address of Stephan's London contact: he willingly hands it over.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:Yes
Object_Number:COI 236
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:1939-1945
Production Date:1944
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Ministry of Information (Production sponsor)
Phoenix (London) (Production company)
Hitchcock, Alfred (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations:
Keywords: propaganda, British - inspirational (object name)
propaganda, French - inspirational (object name)
France (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: French
Title language: French
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 3
Footage: 2343 ft; Running time: 25 mins
