Blast from the Past: Errol Flynn Revisited
Errol Flynn render an earnest yet utterly believable performance in Uncertain Glory, a World War II crime drama, directed by Raoul Walsh, and co-starring Paul Lukas.
Grade: B
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The film’s title refers to Shakespeare’s play “Two Gentlemen of Verona” (Act 1, Scene 3): “O, how this spring of love resembleth/ The uncertain glory of an April day/ Which now shows all the beauty of the sun/ And by and by a cloud takes all away!”
Set in Vichy Paris during World War II, the tale centers on a career criminal, Jean Picard (Flynn), as he awaits execution.
French Sûreté Inspector Marcel Bonet (Lukas) has pursued Picard for fifteen years, finally apprehending him for murder.
When an air raid hits his prison, Picard flees to the flat of his friend, Henri Duval, and demands forged papers and money. While Duval is gone, Picard seduces his willing girlfriend Louise. In return, Duval betrays Picard to the Sûreté.
In the course of his adventures, Picard goes by the alias Jean Emil Dupont. To clear the path, Bonet notifies his superiors in Paris that he had shot Picard when he attempted to escape, with his body lost in a river.
In the end, back in Paris, the desperate Bonet resolves to turn himself in as the saboteur. However, Picard convinces the Nazis that he was the sole saboteur.
When Maryanne, Picard’s love interest, asks Bonet, “What is he really like, deep in his heart?” Bonet says, “He was a Frenchman.”
This was the first film produced under Flynn’s new contract with Warners, which granted him choice of vehicles, directors and casts, and greater share of the profits.
Relyng on his appealing bravado and sly humor, Flynn navigates smoothly through the various facets of his personality, which is alternately enigmatic and transparent, depending on the circumstances. Paul Lukas, who had just won the Best Actor Oscar for Watch on the Rhine, adds a layer of gravity.
Cast
Errol Flynn as Jean Picard
Paul Lukas as Inspector Marcel Bonet
Jean Sullivan as Marianne
Lucile Watson as Mme. Maret
Dennis Hoey as Father Le Clerc
Albert Van Antwerp as Vitrac, an undergrounder
Wallis Clark as Razeau, an undergrounder
Victor Kilian as Latour, an undergrounder
James Flavin as captain, Mobile Guard
Douglass Dumbrille as Police Commissioner LaFarge
Art Smith as The Warden
Faye Emerson as Louise
Credits:
Directed by Raoul Walsh
Written by László Vadnay, Max Brand, based on original story by Joe May and László Vadnay
Produced by Robert Buckner
Cinematography Sidney Hickox
Edited by George Amy
Music by Adolph Deutsch
Production: Thomson Productions (Flynn’s company)
Distributed by Warner
Release dates: April 22, 1944 (US)
Running time: 102 minutes
