Odette (film)
Encyclopedia
Odette is a 1950 film
that was directed by Herbert Wilcox
and used a screenplay
by Warren Chetham-Strode
. The film starred Anna Neagle
as Odette Sansom
, an Allied
French-born heroine of World War II
who joined the Special Operations Executive
(SOE) and was sent to France to work with the resistance. Trevor Howard
played the part of Peter Churchill
, the British agent she mainly worked with. Peter Ustinov
played their radio operator.
Churchill and Odette were both captured by the Nazis after having operated successfully for some time. Odette was badly tortured but didn't reveal anything. She was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp
, survived and was awarded the George Cross
(The highest British award for bravery not directly in the face of the enemy).
Colonel Maurice Buckmaster
, who was head of the SOE
's French Section
, played himself in the film, as did Paddy Sproule a FANY female SOE agent.
1950 in film
The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
that was directed by Herbert Wilcox
Herbert Wilcox
Herbert Sydney Wilcox was a British film producer and director.-Early life:Wilcox's mother was from County Cork, Ireland, but he was born in Norwood and attended school in Brighton...
and used a screenplay
Screenplay
A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...
by Warren Chetham-Strode
Warren Chetham-Strode
Reginald Warren Chetham-Strode MC, was an English author and playwright. He wrote several plays including The Guinea Pig which was turned into a movie in 1948...
. The film starred Anna Neagle
Anna Neagle
Forming a professional alliance with Wilcox, Neagle played her first starring film role in the musical Goodnight Vienna , again with Jack Buchanan. With this film Neagle became an overnight favourite...
as Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom
Odette Sansom Hallowes GC, MBE, Chevalier de la légion d'honneur was an Allied heroine of the Second World War.-Early years:...
, an Allied
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
French-born heroine of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
who joined the Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
(SOE) and was sent to France to work with the resistance. Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard
Trevor Howard , born Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith, was an English film, stage and television actor.-Early life:...
played the part of Peter Churchill
Peter Churchill
Peter Morland Churchill DSO Croix de Guerre was an SOE Officer in France during World War II.He was a brother of Group Captain Walter Churchill DSO DFC and Major Oliver Churchill DSO MC who was also an SOE Officer during World War II.-Biography:...
, the British agent she mainly worked with. Peter Ustinov
Peter Ustinov
Peter Alexander Ustinov CBE was an English actor, writer and dramatist. He was also renowned as a filmmaker, theatre and opera director, stage designer, author, screenwriter, comedian, humourist, newspaper and magazine columnist, radio broadcaster and television presenter...
played their radio operator.
Churchill and Odette were both captured by the Nazis after having operated successfully for some time. Odette was badly tortured but didn't reveal anything. She was sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück concentration camp
Ravensbrück was a notorious women's concentration camp during World War II, located in northern Germany, 90 km north of Berlin at a site near the village of Ravensbrück ....
, survived and was awarded the George Cross
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
(The highest British award for bravery not directly in the face of the enemy).
Colonel Maurice Buckmaster
Maurice Buckmaster
Colonel Maurice James Buckmaster OBE was the leader of the French section of Special Operations Executive and was awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was a corporate manager with the French branch of the Ford Motor Company, in the postwar years serving in Dagenham...
, who was head of the SOE
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
's French Section
SOE F Section timeline
Timeline of events in the history of Section F of the Special Operations Executive. See also SOE F Section networks.*The relevant modern administrative département numbers are added, after several of the place names, so as to facilitate the tracing of events geographically.-May 1941-July 1941:...
, played himself in the film, as did Paddy Sproule a FANY female SOE agent.