Renoir, pained by the contempt of Americans for the seeming ease of France's capitulation to the Nazis, hoped to mitigate their disdain with this portrait of life in an occupied country. The film stars Charles Laughton as Albert Maury, a timid middle-aged schoolteacher who is more afraid of the sound of bombs dropping than are his students. He follows every stricture of the Nazi authorities, insisting his students tear "subversive" pages out of their books. His distaste for the authorities is increased by his infatuation with another schoolteacher, Louise Martin (Maureen O'Hara), who happens to be engaged to Georges Lambert (George Sanders), a Vichyite leader who is gratified by the changes wrought by the Nazis. The Nazi commandant Major Erich von Keller (Walter Slezak) becomes impatient with the effectiveness of the Resistance in blowing up their supply trains, and decides to take a number of locals hostage, including Maury. Under pressure, Georges denounces Louise's brother Paul (Kent Martin), a member of the Resistance, and commits suicide. Maury, however, is charged with his murder. How will he respond? The patriotic flag-waver features a fine performance by Laughton.
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