Madame Pimpernel (1945)
"Paris Underground" (original title)

Among the terrified refugees jamming the roads out of Paris in 1940 are Kitty de Mornay, a rich American divorced from her French husband, and her companion Emmyline (Emmy) Quayle. A German... See full summary »

Director:

Gregory Ratoff

Writers:

Etta Shiber (story), Boris Ingster (screenplay),

Stars:

Constance Bennett, Gracie Fields, George Rigaud

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Credited cast:
Constance Bennett	...	Kitty de Mornay
Gracie Fields	...	Emmeline Quayle
George Rigaud	...	Andre de Mornay
Kurt Kreuger	...	Capt. Kurt von Weber
Leslie Vincent	...	Lt. William Gray
Charles Andre	...	Father Dominique
Eily Malyon	...	Madame Martin
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Undertaker
Richard Ryen	...	Mons. Renard
Gregory Gaye	...	Tissier (as Gregory Gay)
Maurice Cass	...	Patriot
Adrienne D'Ambricourt	...	Margot (as Adrienne d'Ambricourt)
Andrew V. McLaglen	...	Sgt. McNair (as Andrew McLaglen)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hans von Morhart	...	German Officer

Storyline

Among the terrified refugees jamming the roads out of Paris in 1940 are Kitty de Mornay, a rich American divorced from her French husband, and her companion Emmyline (Emmy) Quayle. A German patrol orders their car back to Paris and, en-route, they stop at an inn where they find a wounded RAF flyer, Lieutenant Gray. They hide him in the luggage compartment of their car. While attempting to repair a flat tire, they are accosted by Gestapo Captain Kurt von Webber. He drives them to Emmy's apartment. Later, with the help of Kitty's estranged husband, Andre de Mornay, a member of the FRench underground movement, Kitty and Emmy smuggle Lt. Gray out of Paris to safety. Since they now have means of getting to unoccupied France they contact a priest who is harboring many RAF fliers. Funeral processions are allowed across the border unchallenged by the German sentries, and Kitty and Emmy stage one in which their RAF men pose as mourners. Von Weber suspects the women, and he plants a spy in ...

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Plot Keywords:

raf | german | american | priest | gestapo | 

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Taglines:

SENSATIONAL! REVEALING! Amazing story that tears the veil of secrecy from terrors of occupied Paris!

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1945 (USA)

Also Known As:

Madame Pimpernel

Company Credits

Production Co:

Constance Bennett Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Screen Guild Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on November 19, 1945 with Constance Bennett reprising her film role.

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Connections

Referenced in New York, New York (1977)

User Reviews

Glamorous ex-pat in WWII occupied France turns unlikely spy.

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.