Product Details

• Actors: Joan Crawford, John Wayne, Philip Dorn, Reginald Owen, Albert Bassermann
• Directors: Jules Dassin
• Writers: Charles Hoffman, Jan Lustig, Leslie Bush-Fekete, Marc Connelly, Marvin Borowsky
• Producers: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English, German
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: May 26, 1994
• Run Time: 104 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301977076

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The lone pairing of Joan Crawford and John Wayne is reason enough for being curious about Reunion in France, a flagrantly preposterous World War II melodrama with a surprisingly distinguished roster of contributors--from producer Joseph L. Mankiewicz, co-screenwriter Marc Connelly, and director Jules Dassin to such stalwart character actors as Philip Dorn, John Carradine, Reginald Owen, Henry Daniell, Albert Bassermann, Howard Da Silva, and unbilled bit player Ava Gardner. It's a Crawford vehicle all the way (her next-to-last at MGM), with her as a heedless French fashionista in love with ultra-swank, wealthy industrial designer Dorn. While on a trip, Crawford finds herself under German bombs and, after suffering in the company of other, much less stylishly costumed refugees, makes her way back to Paris. There she's shocked to discover Dorn still enjoying his upper-crust lifestyle: he's lent his skills and factories to the Nazi war machine, and Crawford--appalled and suddenly penniless--seeks gainful employment and moral rearmament with her favorite modiste.

Wayne enters the picture a couple of reels in, an American flyboy who signed on with the RAF, crashed in France, and made his way to Paris. Inveigling himself into Crawford's arms under the eyes of a Gestapo agent, he enjoys her reluctant protection for a good deal longer than credibility can bear. People who know such things have recorded that, in reality, Crawford made any number of heavy passes at her costar, but there was no chemistry between them offscreen or on. The one scene in the film with any sting features veteran German actor Ernst Deutsch (the future Baron Kurtz of The Third Man, billed as Ernest Dorian in his Hollywood years) as a Nazi officer tormented by the knowledge that he is loathed by the people whose nation he occupies. --Richard T. Jameson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and glamourous, fun and cozy, September 27, 2004

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Good Brother Cadfael (Virginia) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Reunion in France [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Those nasty Nazis will never triumph because they have no fashion sense, no sense of humour and are utterly mystified by the workings of the female mind. Oh, I love this film and so does everyone to whom I've lent it.

Joan Crawford represents the spoiled darling that was France, now ready to join the Resistance and fight for freedom. (Don't worry, those oblivious Nazis actually FETCH HER ENTIRE COUTURE WARDROBE to the modest digs she occupies when they have taken over the lion's share of her house.)

The two who take away the film, though, are Henry Daniell and John Carradine, both playing Nazi officers. The former, who has been wounded by the bite of an enemy dog, is in charge of Joan's house when it is commandeered. He is captivated by Joan, who lets him back her up against the wall and KISS HER ON THE LIPS so that John Wayne can make his getaway. John Carradine is the head of the Gestapo in Paris, and he is so sinister, sombre and sexless that you may find yourself fretting that Joan might have a little trouble with him. Don't. She will triumph at the end.

My favourite scene is in a nightclub. There is an African-American jazz band playing and the singer is belting out "I'll be glad when you're dead, you rascals, you! I'll be glad when you're dead, and Adolf, too!" The smiling, finger-tapping Nazi couples just lap it up. They don't know English, I suppose. (What makes this even weirder is that the whole movie is in nothing BUT English. But don't worry about it.)

A joy from start to finish. Please watch and enjoy. This is right up there with _Adventures of Tartu_ with Robert Donat!

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars JOAN CRAWFORD TAKES ON THE NAZI OCCUPATION OF FRANCE..., December 9, 2001

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Lawyeraau (Balmoral Castle) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reunion in France [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Entertaining, though slightly absurd, World War II story. Rich French woman (Joan Crawford) is madly in love with and engaged to rich French industrialist (Philip Dorn). She is a self indulgent society woman, until the war ravages the France she knew. Now, with France under Nazi occupation, her magnificent mansion in Paris in the hands of the German comquerors, her fiancee seemingly in the thrall of the Nazis, she sees the light and undergoes a change. A fervent patriot, she rejects the Nazis and, in doing so, rejects her fiancee.

An injured American RAF pilot (John Wayne) accosts her on the streets of Paris one night and induces a surprised Joan Crawford to help him escape those whom he believes are following him. She does so, but it soon becomes paramount that he leave France. She turns for help to her by now estranged fiancee, whom she has spurned, because she perceived him as having collaborated with the enemy. To her surprise, he agrees to help her.

The pilot's departure does not go according to plan, however, and Joan discovers that things are not always what they seem. Though the viewer will probably realize what is going on before Joan does, this does not take away from the enjoyment of what is clearly a war propaganda film.

Philip Dorn is wonderful in the part of the rich French industrialist and Joan's fiancee. Joan is, as always, beautifully garbed in exquisite outfits and give an excellent performance. John Wayne is overshadowed by his co-stars and seems somewhat awkward in the part of the American RAF pilot. While the screenplay is somewhat unbelievable, it is an entertaining film, nonetheless. Joan Crawford fans and those who love classic films will surely enjoy it.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wayne and Crawford in wartorn France, June 19, 2000

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SD "s007davis" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reunion in France [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Glossy, entertaining WWII era propaganda and the only time John Wayne and Joan Crawford appeared together in the same film. Not as good as CASABLANCA or MRS. MINIVER but still a must see for fans of films made about the war between the years 1939 and 1945. Keep an eye out for Natalie Schafer ("Mrs. Howell" from GILLIGAN'S ISLAND) as a pushy Nazi officer's wife and Ava Gardner as a salesgirl who says "Gutentag".