ID

FBW001273      Fiction

Country / Year

USA, 1942

Original Title

The Pied Piper

Directed by

Irving Pichel

Produced by

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., Los Angeles, CA / New York, NY

Staff

Producer: Nunnally Johnson; Script: Nunnally Johnson; Based on: Nevil Shute (Based on the novel "PIED PIPER"); Camera: Edward Cronjager; Editing: Allen McNeil; Production design: Richard Day, Maurice Ransford; Set decoration: Thomas Little; Costume design: Dolly Tree; Music: Alfred Newman

Cast

Monty Woolley (Howard); Roddy McDowall (Ronnie Cavanaugh); Anne Baxter (Nicole Rougeron); Otto Preminger (Maj. Diessen); J. Carrol Naish (Aristide Rougeron); Lester Matthews (Mr. Cavanaugh); Jill Esmond (Mrs. Cavanaugh); Ferike Boros (Madame); Peggy Ann Garner (Sheila Cavanaugh); Merrill Rodin (Willem); Maurice Tauzin (Pierre); Fleurette Zama (Rose); William Edmunds (Frenchman); Marcel Dalio (Foquet); Marcelle Corday (Mme. Bonne); Edward Ashley (Charendon); Morton Lowry (Roger Dickinson); Jean Del Val (Railroad Official); William Yetter, Sr. (Officer at Road); George Davis (Barman); Rudolf Amendt-Anders (als: Rudolf Anders) (Lieutenant); Henry Rowland (Military Policeman); Helmut Dantine (Aide); Henry Guttman (German Soldier); Otto Reichow (German Soldier); Hans von Morhart (Sergeant); Hans Heinrich von Twardowski (Sergeant); Adrienne d'Ambricourt (Servant); Odette Myrtil (Mme. Rougeron); Mici Gory (Proprietress); Jean De Briac (Fisherman); Ernst Hausman (Soldier); Wilson Benge (Waiter); Brandon Hurst (Majordomo); Thomas Louden (Medford)

Length

86'

Format

35mm/sw/1:1,37

Abstract

Howard is fishing in France to forget that his only son was one of the first Englishmen killed in the war. While there, the Nazis come by way of Belgium, and Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh, a British couple, ask Howard if he will squire their two young children to the coast where they hope the kids will be able to cross the English Channel to safety. The children are placed in the crusty Howard's care and he begins the journey. Along the way, they are joined by several other war waifs and he is amazed that these children, who do not speak each other's languages, are still able to communicate in the way only children can. Just before they are to escape, the group is captured by Major Diessen, a Nazi officer. Now a battle of wits ensues between Howard and Diessen with the former getting all the good lines and zings. At the conclusion, Howard manages to convince Diessen that these are innocent children and the latter relents and allows them to evacuate, provided they take his niece along with them.

Subject Terms

Anti-Nazi films (US); Exile films

Bibliography

- Nash, Ray R. / Ross, Stanley R. / Conelly, Robert B. (Ed.): Motion Picture Guide. Chicago, IL: Cinebooks, 1987