Odette (1950)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Herbert Wilcox

Writers:

Warren Chetham Strode (screenplay) and
Jerrard Tickell (book)

Release Date:

2 October 1950 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

This is the story of a brave woman who volunteered to join SOE (Special Operations Executive) during WWII...

Plot Keywords:

Special Operations Executive | WWII | Spy | First Aid Nursing Yeomanry | Based On True Story

Cast

Anna Neagle	...	Odette Sanson / Marie / Lise
Trevor Howard	...	Captain Peter Churchill / Raoul
Marius Goring	...	Colonel Henri
Bernard Lee	...	Jack
Peter Ustinov	...	Lt. Alex Rabinovich / Arnauld
Maurice Buckmaster	...	Himself
Alfred Schieske	...	Camp Commandant
Gilles Quéant	...	Jacques (as Gilles Queant)
Marianne Walla	...	S.S. Wardress
Fritz Wendhausen	...	Colonel (as F.R.Wendhousen)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marie Burke	...	Mme. Gliere
Wolf Frees	...	Major
John Hunter	...	American Officer
Catherine Paul	...	Mother Superior
Derrick Penley	...	Jules
Guyri Wagner	...	Interrogator

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Annecy, Haute-Savoie, France

Company:

Herbert Wilcox Productions

Trivia:

Anna Neagle spent a year with Odette Hallowes visiting the various prisons and camps where Odette was held and being introduced to other surviving SOE agents. Odette said of her, "She was absolutely into it. In fact it took one year after the end of the film to get back to normal, she was more upset by doing that film than I was reliving the experience."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Peter Churchill is being flown back to France, he takes off in a Mk1 Halifax B, but over the drop zone he's in a Mk2. This may seem esoteric, but the Mk1 had in-line Rolls Royce Merlin engines, triangular fins and a nose turret similar to the Lancaster. The Mk2 had Bristol Hercules radial engines, square fins and a blunt nose with no gun turret, a radically different aircraft.

Opened a whole new world for me

I first saw Odette when I first arrived in the United States at age 12. I was captivated by television and watched old movies and old television reruns after school. I was just developing a love for history and world war 2 history at school when I saw Odette for the first time. The story, authentic scenery and realistic performances completely drew me in. This movie will keep you on the edge of your seat for it is extremely intense and Anne Neagle draws you completely into the dark world experienced by Odette Sampson. Trevor Howard is strong, convincing and underplays just enough to allow Miss Neagle to shine, while conveying the strength of his character. I highly recommend this film if and when it can be seen again. The historians in the world would love the chance to add this film to their collection. Waiting patiently for the video and DVD.