Odette

Odette

Year: 1950

Runtime: 124 mins

Language: English

Director: Herbert Wilcox

DramaHistoryWar

Based on the true story of SOE agent Odette Sansom, a French‑born spy captured by the Germans in 1943, condemned to death and sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp. She survived, testified at the Hamburg Ravensbrück Trials, and in 1946 became the first woman awarded the George Cross, the only woman to receive it while alive.

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Timeline & Setting – Odette (1950)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Odette (1950). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1942–1945

The narrative unfolds during World War II, highlighting Odette’s 1942 SOE training and her 1942–1945 missions in occupied France. The timeline spans key wartime shifts—from clandestine operations and mid-war raids to capture, torture, and the eventual Allied advance. The action peaks with the 1945 liberation as the war in Europe nears its end.

Location

Cannes, Marseille, Annecy, Fresnes (near Paris), Ravensbrück, London

Cannes on the French Riviera serves as the initial setting where Odette begins her undercover work. Marseille acts as a port city hub for gathering plans and coordinating with the network. Annecy becomes a temporary rendezvous point with the Maquis, before Odette and her associates face a raid and are forced to relocate. Fresnes Prison near Paris and Ravensbrück concentration camp mark the darkest chapters, where captivity and interrogation test Odette’s resolve, culminating in the British-backed liberation from London.

🗺️ War zones 🧭 Espionage 🕰️ WWII-era

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:33

Main Characters – Odette (1950)

Meet the key characters of Odette (1950), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Odette Sansom (Anna Neagle)

Odette is the mother of three who becomes an SOE spy, returning to France to lead clandestine operations. She shows quiet determination, moral clarity, and a willingness to face danger for the greater good. Her resilience under interrogation marks her as the beacon of the network.

🎖️ Spy 🧭 War work 👩‍👧 Motherhood

Captain Peter Churchill (Trevor Howard)

Peter is Odette's supervisor and ally, guiding missions and coordinating with British authorities. He supports the operation and shares in the risks of wartime espionage. His presence heightens the personal stakes of the mission.

🎖️ Leadership 🕵️ Espionage

Lt. Alex Rabinovich (Peter Ustinov)

Arnaud/Rabinovich is a fellow agent who partners with Odette on French missions. He provides tactical support, shares information, and helps facilitate contact with local resistance. His character embodies international collaboration within the SOE network.

🎖️ Ally 🧭 Intelligence

Jacques (Gilles Quéant)

Jacques is a liaison figure in Annecy who coordinates with the Maquis and Odette's network. He represents civilian support that helps agents move between safe zones and operational targets. His interactions reflect the network's precarious trust-based relationships.

🤝 Ally 🗺️ Resistance

Colonel Henri (Marius Goring)

Henri is the Abwehr colonel pursuing Odette's network through Cannes and Annecy. He embodies the Nazi counter-espionage pressure and the cat-and-mouse nature of the war in occupied France. His pursuit escalates the danger faced by Odette and her associates.

🎖️ Adversary 🧭 Counterintelligence

Camp Commandant (Alfred Schieske)

The Ravensbrück camp commandant embodies the brutal machinery of the Nazi regime. He oversees the abuse and interrogation of prisoners like Odette and embodies the systemic oppression faced by resistance members. His disposition shapes the tension of the camp sequence.

⚔️ Tyranny 🏛️ Detention

Maurice Buckmaster (Himself)

Buckmaster is the head of the SOE network, coordinating the British side of Odette's operations. He represents the strategic planning and political backing that undergirds the entire mission. His appearance signals official recognition of the French operation.

🎖️ Leadership 🕵️ Espionage

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:33

Major Themes – Odette (1950)

Explore the central themes of Odette (1950), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

The film centers on clandestine operations carried out by resistance-friendly agents. Odette is recruited as an French operative for the SOE and undergoes training to infiltrate occupied France. The plot follows dangerous missions, the exchange of intelligence, and the constant risk of exposure.

🗺️ Deception & Identity

Odette's network relies on deception, false identities, and misdirection to move plans and arms through occupied territory. The German belief that Peter Churchill is related to Churchill, and the lies told by Odette to save herself and allies, drive a central tension. The theme explores how truth and lies shape survival in wartime.

👩‍💼 Courage & Endurance

Odette endures torture and isolation without breaking, sustaining the resolve to stay loyal to her mission and compatriots. The narrative emphasizes personal sacrifice, the risk of death, and resilience under interrogation. This courage defines the course of the espionage operation and its ultimate payoff.

🕊️ Liberation

The characters' fates hinge on the arc of war turning in favor of the Allies. After captivity and suffering, Odette is reunited with Peter as the conflict nears its end. The film frames liberation not just as a military victory but as deliverance from fear and oppression.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 17:33

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