Passage to Marseille

Adventure, Drama, War · 1944Approved

Humphrey Bogart reunites with director Michael Curtiz and other key Casablanca personnel (Including co-stars Claude Rains, Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet) for a tension-swept Passage to Marseille. Bogart plays Jean Matrac, a World War II French patriot who escapes Devil's Island, survives a dangerous freighter voyage and becomes a gunner in the Free French Air Corps. Passage sailed into theaters on stormy seas. Controversy surrounded the scene in which Matrac machine-guns the helpless survivors of a downed plane that had attacked the freighter. That a soldier of freedom (one played by Bogart, no less!) would act ignobly brought protests from religious and censorship groups. But, like Matrac facing a strafing dive-bomber, the studio held its ground. War could even dehumanize a hero. Domestic prints would remain uncut.

Starring

Jack L. Warner, Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Max Steiner, Michèle Morgan, Michael Curtiz, Hal B. Wallis, Philip Dorn, Casey Robinson, Sydney Greenstreet

Director

Michael Curtiz

Producer

Hal B. Wallis