This film concerns the training of an ex-Air Corps pilot to execute a Frenchman in occupied Paris who has allegedly betrayed members of the Resistance to the Gestapo.
It is based upon a story by Donald Downes with a screenplay by Paul Dehn. Both these men were eminently qualified for this material as Downes had been an officer in the OSS and Dehn an instructor at the SOE Camp X in Canada!
During his training Gene Summers, soon to become Jean Doumier, regards the whole thing as an adventure but all that changes when he meets Lafitte, his intended victim........
After a slow start this film develops into a gripping and spellbinding piece with immaculate direction by Anthony Asquith and some outstanding performances. Playing Gene is Paul Massie who depicts extremely well the moral dilemma of having to kill a man that he believes to be innocent. This was Massie's first major role and he deservedly won a BAFTA.
Another BAFTA went to Irene Worth who is simply superlative in a comparatively small but telling role as Leonie, his contact in Paris. Eddie Albert turns in another of his great performances an an instructor and Leslie French as Lafitte has his finest hour.
Paul Dehn also picked up a BAFTA and went on to utilise his specialised knowledge in screenplays for Le Carre's 'Spy who came in from the Cold' and 'Deadly Affair'.
Some critics at the time referred rather derogatively to the films 'sentimentality'. They were no doubt referring to the final scene involving Gene and Lafitte's widow and daughter. In the context of both the film and Gene's character this ending is extremely effective and I, for one, would not have it any other way.
Review of Orders to Kill
