Paris Underground

1945 "SENSATIONAL! REVEALING! Amazing story that tears the veil of secrecy from terrors of occupied Paris!"
6.6| 1h36m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 18 October 1945 Released
Producted By: United Artists
Country:
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Constance Bennett both produced and starred in the espionager Paris Underground. Bennett and Gracie Fields play, respectively, an American and an English citizen trapped in Paris when the Nazis invade. The women team up to help Allied aviators escape from the occupied city into Free French territory. The screenplay was based on the true wartime activities of Etta Shiber, who engineered the escape of nearly 300 Allied pilots. British fans of comedienne Gracie Fields were put off by the scenes in which she is tortured by the Gestapo, while Constance Bennett's following had been rapidly dwindling since the 1930s; as a result, the heartfelt but tiresome Paris Underground failed to make a dent at the box-office. It would be Constance Bennett's last starring film--and Gracie Fields' last film, period.

Genre

Drama, War

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Director

Gregory Ratoff

Production Companies

United Artists

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Paris Underground Audience Reviews

Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.
Sexyloutak Absolutely the worst movie.
Brendon Jones It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
Derry Herrera Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.
mark.waltz Three years after Joan Crawford walked through an approaching crowd as the Nazis entered Paris (with her hair unmussed), veteran actress Constance Bennett took on the invading fifth columnists in order to help stranded English soldiers get out of the country safely. Aiding her in this is veteran English actress/music hall performer Gracie Fields who doesn't get to be comical here as she was in earlier films. The film really gets exciting during one moment when Bennett hides a soldier in the trunk of her car and deals with Nazi soldiers who help her change her tires. With suspicious landlady Eily Maylon supposedly reporting her activities to the Nazi's, Bennett is soon being watched, and this leads to an exciting confrontation where everybody in the complex is threatened with torture and death unless the members of the underground give themselves up. Unfortunately, the film doesn't represent reality well in the conclusion which goes for the traditional Hollywood happy ending rather than what probably would have happened in a real life situation.Made towards the end of the war, this pretty much seems to have lost its impact simply out of a "been there, done that" sort of feeling. Of course, there's the typical propaganda and a few moments of grave tension which are hand-gripping moments of true fear. Ms. Bennett was the film's producer which gives a good indication of why in her 40's she looks totally glamorous throughout. It's still entertaining, but one of those films on a much made topic that seems standard when compared to such classics as "The Mortal Storm", "Underground" and "Edge of Darkness".
deschreiber I pretty much agree with the lukewarm review here entitled "Mediocre war heroine tale." This is far from a "gem," as some people would have it.The plot keeps moving and is mildly interesting, although without finger-biting suspense. We know pretty well how each situation will turn out, the romance, the hair's-breadth escapes, and so on. As the end approaches there is a little surprise, but it's all fixed up within minutes as victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat and medals are pinned on the heroines. Ho-hum. I barely kept myself from turning off the television.Outdoor scenes are all shot in studio and look very fake. The foggy night scene in the fields--puleeze! The music has moments when it goes over the top.Although the movie is set in France, French characters are insignificant, while the American and English ladies are large, ultimately heroic presences. It's certainly a narrow, nationalistic vision of "Paris underground." I did find it refreshing to see a movie, especially one focused on the conflicts of war, in which the lead characters are female.Don't get excited about seeing this. Don't set aside important time for it. But if you run into it accidentally, you probably won't think it's a total waste of time.I believe this film was also released with the title "Madame Pimpernel."
robert-temple-1 Constance Bennett produced this vehicle for herself, which was a fairly typical postwar story of Resistance heroism in Paris (no real location shooting, alas). Constance Bennett had plenty of energy but by this stage in her career she had no genuine charm. She battles her way through the part with determination, but just cannot engage the viewer. Her performance is too mannered, too exterior. Her chum Gracie Fields (in her last film role) does far better, is amusing, watchable, and engaging. A smoothie Frenchman, George Rigaud, plays Bennett's French husband, and he is very convincing at it. Young Kurt Kreuger is excellent as the Gestapo captain with whom Bennett forms an ambivalent semi-romantic friendship, while she is at the same time spiriting downed American and British airmen out of France with the aid of the Resistance. The film is not so bad one wouldn't want to watch it, but it avoids being good. Gregory Ratoff directed it, and it is not one of his finest achievements. If you are uncritical of such films, and do not expect too much, this could afford some diversion.
maksquibs In a late example of a fading Hollywood star going to England for a career boost, delectable Constance Bennett plays a madcap, irresponsible Yankee stuck in occupied France. She's uses her glam appeal to aid the resistance & help Allied troops escape with the help of co-hort Gracie Fields, the Brit Music Hall star in her final screen perf. The whole unlikely enterprise is done with reasonable flair under surprisingly lively direction from Gregory Ratoff and stellar lighting from lenser Lee Garmes. Too bad no one was able to turn the corner for the last act when the film tries for a darker, more serious tone, but it's well worth a gander. As is the still jolie Mme Bennett.