This is a film about British prisoners of war. After Dunkirk they were marched across Europe until reaching their destinations most going into prisoner of war camps in Germany. Most of these men were ‘in the bag’ (prisoners) and would face nearly five years in captivity.
The film mainly deals with the story of Capt. Karel Hasek (Michael Redgrave) a Czech soldier who having escaped from a prison camp trying to get to safety puts on the uniform of a dead British Captain, Geoffrey Mitchell in the process taking this identity. Other characters amongst the POW's were best friends and business partners from before the war Corporal Ted Horsfall (Jack Warner) and Private Dai Evans who befriend Pte. Mathews (Mervyn Johns) a London wide boy, Lieutenant David Lennox (Gordon Jackson) who due to injury is blind and gives a touching performance.
The other prisoners begin to believe Mitchell is a German spy and when confronted he explains his position. A visiting Gestapo officer is known to Mitchell as Hasek and takes an interest in him unsure if he if who he thinks he is. Later he inquires why Mitchell is not writing home to his wife. To cover his handwriting he arranges an accident. Prior to the war Mitchell and his wife were not getting on and so when she receives the sweet letters from Hasek pretending to be her husband it causes her to fall for him again.
In the camp time drags, and strangely we see no attempts to escape except when injured and sick prisoners are offered repatriation. The Gestapo are close to finding out the identity of Mitchell so he goes before the repatriation board in hope of gaining a place on the boat home but fails.
Pte. Mathews comes to the rescue giving his place but they have to change the name on the list. The list is in the commandant’s officer so they break in and make the changes and the only thing to do is dodge a guard and he is homeward bound.
At the dock waiting for the ship is Mitchell's wife Celia (Rachel Kempson) she pushes past him looking for her husband. Corporal Ted Horsfall and Private Dai Evans return home but its bitter sweet for Pte Evans. His wife died giving birth to a daughter he had never seen. Young Lieutenant David Lennox goes home to his Mother and Farther but his girlfriend is waiting for him they were engaged but he called it off due to his blindness.
There was also Lieutenant Stephen Harley (Derek Bond) distraught after receiving a letter, which states his wife is being unfaithful. The letter was a case of malice but feeling dejected the wife began an affair
.
He goes to see Celia and tells her about her husband’s death and why he took over his identity but she wants to know why he wrote so lovingly explain he fell in love with the letter writer. After she recovers, she begins rereading his letters and realises that she has come to love the writer. When Hasek calls her on the telephone on the day that Germany surrenders, she rush from the garden to speak with him.
All of which combines to create an effective drama with a surprising touching side and I don't mean just the romance but the companionship of the men in the camp. Much of this down to a stellar British cast as whilst Michael Redgrave is perfectly understated as Hasek he has great support from the likes of Gordon Jackson, Mervyn Jones, and Jack Warner.
What this all boils down to is that "The Captive Heart" is a surprisingly touching war movie with not only a decent romantic storyline but an interesting look at life inside a prisoner of war camp.
No comments:
Post a Comment