13 Rue Madeleine (1947)

When spy chief Bob Sharkey finds out one of his agents-in-training is actually a Nazi double agent, his strategic decision not to arrest him results in tragedy.

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

John Monks Jr. (original screenplay), Sy Bartlett (original screenplay)

Stars:

James Cagney, Annabella, Richard Conte

Cast

Complete credited cast:
James Cagney	...	Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey
Annabella	...	Suzanne de Beaumont
Richard Conte	...	Bill O'Connell
Frank Latimore	...	Jeff Lassiter
Walter Abel	...	Charles Gibson
Melville Cooper	...	Pappy Simpson
Sam Jaffe	...	Mayor Galimard
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Gordon	...	Psychiatrist (scenes deleted)
Horace McMahon	...	Burglary Instructor (scenes deleted)

Storyline

Documentary-style prologue follows training of O.S.S. agents for WWII work behind enemy lines. One of the group is a German "mole;" leaders Gibson and Sharkey are aware of this and scheme to feed him false info about the invasion of Europe, while the real agents go to France to find a secret V-2 rocket depot. But the German spy outsmarts them and rejoins his people knowing too much; Bob Sharkey takes the risk of going in after him.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | double agent | france | nazi | backgammon | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

3 March 1947 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

13, rue Madeleine

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's director, Henry Hathaway, once said of this movie: "I stole the plot of 'The Virginian' and used it. I'd always wanted to make that story anyway."

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Goofs

When Cagney is driven from the french Mayors office, he is driven in a right hand drive car, the only countries in Europe to drive on the left are the UK and Ireland (and in the period Sweden also, who switched to the right in 1962). While it is of course possible to find a few RHD cars in France it's more likely the only European car the film makers had was a British one.

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Quotes

Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey: If he isn't sold and should in any way suspect that you're on a double mission, if he does make his break and tries to follow you, you're going to shoot him.
Jeff Lassiter: Shoot him?
Jeff Lassiter: [clearly disturbed by the thought] Tha-That's rough! Tha...
Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey: That's war... and that's your mission!
Jeff Lassiter: Yeah.
Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey: O'Connell can do it. Can you?
Jeff Lassiter: Yeah, I can do it.
Robert Emmett 'Bob' Sharkey: That's all for now.
Jeff Lassiter: Right.

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Crazy Credits

Prologue, shown printed in a book: No single story could ever pay full tribute to the accomplishments of the U.S. Army Intelligence in World War II. Working secretly behind enemy lines, in close cooperation with our Allies, its brilliant work was an acknowledged factor in the final victory. The page turns to reveal: In order to obtain the maximum of realism and authenticity, all the exterior and interior settings in this Motion Picture were photographed in the field - - and, whenever possible, at the actual locations.

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Connections

Edited into All This and World War II (1976)

User Reviews

Double crossing double agents in WWII.

Very interesting war drama starring James Cagney as a secret agent that has to infiltrate Nazi headquarters and double cross an enemy spy that has slipped into his own unit. The discovery of a German missile site location is the main objective. Cagney is air lifted into France and has trouble convincing French freedom fighters that he is there to loosen the Nazi strangle hold.

The cast is full of fine players: Richard Conte, Sam Jaffe, E.G. Marshall, Red Buttons, Karl Malden, Roland Winters and the lovely Annabella.

A great black and white flick evocative of the 40s. Catch it on AMC.