Operation Secret (1952)

While under attack by German forces, a French army unit discovers there is a traitor in their midst, feeding the Germans information.

Director:

Lewis Seiler

Writers:

Harold Medford, James R. Webb

Stars:

Cornel Wilde, Steve Cochran, Phyllis Thaxter

Cast

Cast overview:
Cornel Wilde	...	Peter Forrester
Steve Cochran	...	Marcel Brevoort
Phyllis Thaxter	...	Maria Corbet
Karl Malden	...	Maj. Latrec
Paul Picerni	...	Capt. Armand Dupree
Lester Matthews	...	Robbins
Dan O'Herlihy	...	Mike Duncan
Jay Novello	...	Herr Bauer
Wilton Graff	...	French Official
Dan Riss	...	German Sergeant
Harlan Warde	...	Maj. Dawson
Kenneth Patterson	...	General
William F. Leicester	...	Capt. Hughes (as William Leicester)
Gayle Kellogg	...	Corporal

Storyline

While under attack by German forces, a French army unit discovers there is a traitor in their midst, feeding the Germans information.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | treason | world war two

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Taglines:

A SECRET HUNT FOR THE MAN OF MYSTERY FOUR NATIONS HAD TO FIND! (original print ad - all caps)

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Genres:

War | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 November 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der tote Zeuge

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Facing French Justice

Cornel Wilde stars in this World War II drama Operation Secret in which most of the film is done in flashback by witnesses at a post war French tribunal. The object of the inquiry is to determine who killed Maquis resistance leader Paul Picerni.

This film was about the only Marine who may have served in the European Theater of World War II. Wilde is quite the colorful character and what a background he has. He does a hitch in the Marine Corps during peacetime and then enlists in the French Foreign Legion where he and fellow Legionaire Karl Malden just simply refuse to surrender until wounded and ordered to by Captain Steve Cochran. After a stint in a Prison Camp he's repatriated back to France whereupon he flees to Great Britain and tries to enlist in the Marines again. The Marines take him, but rather than send him to the Pacific, Wilde is given spy training and sent back to France where he eventually hooks up with the Maquis.

That the Maquis had a lot of Communists in it is a given fact. But remember this was the beginning of the Cold War so some anti-Communism gets worked into the plot. Many members of the Resistance do not want to give plans for the new Nazi jet airplanes to the Americans and British. That sets up the conflict as Wilde has to deal with both Germans and people in the Maquis who want to do him in.

To say the least I found the whole premise quite bizarre. But I've always liked Cornel Wilde on the screen and this is far from the worst film he ever did. In fact his portrayal of a spy who has to think fast on his feet is quite good.

Tstifying at the tribunal are Malden, Cochran, Jay Novello playing a former Gestapo man, and an ersatz nun played by Phyllis Thaxter. Eventually the murder of Picerni is solved and the perpetrator faces French justice.

Why they had to invent such a wild (no pun intended)background for Wilde is beyond me. If they had just made him a Frenchman in the first place it would have made more sense. Not like Wilde never did a French accent effectively on the screen.