Passage to Marseille

In 1942, journalist Manning arrives at a British RAF base with Captain Freycinet to learn about the Free French fighters. They watch as French bomber crews prepare for an upcoming raid. Manning's interest centers on Jean Matrac as Freycinet begins to recount his story.

Two years earlier, five men—Marius, Garou, Petit, Renault, and their leader Matrac—are found adrift in a canoe by the tramp steamer Ville de Nancy. They are rescued and taken aboard the French freighter, where their voyage begins. The Caribbean setting frames the escape that will define their fates.

Onboard the Ville de Nancy, the five initially claim to be French-Venezuelan miners. When Captain Malo questions them, they confess that they are escaped convicts from Devil's Island. Their admission exposes a darker backstory behind their voyage.

They are recruited by Grandpère, a fervently patriotic ex-convict, to fight for France in its hour of need. To Grandpère, Matrac's troubles in pre-war France are recounted by the other inmates to persuade him to choose Matrac to lead the escape. The recruitment binds their fates to the Free French cause.

Matrac, a crusading newspaper publisher opposed to the Munich Pact, is framed for murder to silence him. The inmates tell of Matrac's troubles in pre-war France, underscoring his role as a leader and symbol for their escape.

As the Ville de Nancy nears Marseille, France surrenders to Germany and a Vichy government is established. Captain Malo secretly decides to divert the ship to Britain to avoid handing over its cargo. The escapees' defense helps secure their risky plan.

A pro-Vichy passenger, Major Duval, organizes an attempt to seize control of the ship. His plan is defeated largely thanks to the escapees and their resolve. The ship continues on its path toward Britain.

Pro-Vichy traveler Jourdain broadcasts the ship’s coordinates to a Nazi bomber. The escapees respond by shooting down the bomber, paying the price for their courage with Marius’s life. The Ville de Nancy presses on toward England with the survivors.

The surviving convicts arrive in England and join the Free French bomber squadron. They integrate into the Allied air effort against Germany and embrace their new role in the Free French fight. Their experience becomes a testament to resilience and loyalty.

During a mission over occupied France, Renault’s bomber is delayed while Matrac is allowed to drop a letter over his family’s house. He maintains contact with his wife Paula and a son he has never met, keeping a personal link to home despite the war. The moment ties his private life to the larger conflict.

On return from the mission over France, Renault’s bomber lands badly and Matrac is killed. The loss underscores the price paid by the escapees for their daring operation. The surviving crew members carry the memory of their fallen comrade back to base.

At Matrac’s interment, Freycinet reads aloud Matrac’s last, undelivered letter to his son—a vision of a day when evil will be defeated forever. Freycinet promises that the letter will be delivered, preserving Matrac’s memory for his family.