I have said elsewhere that ASQUITH has made some interesing films but many of them are never on tv and not available on dvd.
I doubt my moaning has influenced anybody but I am glad this is out on dvd.
I love war/spy/French resistance films so want to see this one,don't recall ever seeing it on tv.
I saw this film as a 14 year old when it was first released in the UK in 1959. Even at the time it made a huge impact on me. It was different from the gungo ho war films like The Dam Busters and Sink the Bismark that were being made by British film studios at the time. There was absolutely nothing gungo ho about this sober study of what people sometimes have to do in war.
And at last this marvellous film has finally been released on DVD. And its even better than I remember. Irene Worth and Paul Massie in particular turn in superb performances.
And theres a wonderful music score too composed by Benjamin Frankel although its only played at the very end as Massie is walking down the street as the end credits role. The music captures all the poignancy and power of the story.
Please see this - its a neglected masterpiece.
My only regret with the DVD is that there are no extras - no comments from the actors, the background story and how it made and so on. This film really deserves it.