The Cross of Lorraine

The Cross of Lorraine

Year: 1943

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Director: Tay Garnett

DramaWar

MGM’s drama of the fighting French! French soldiers (Jean-Pierre Aumont, Gene Kelly) surrender to lying Nazis and are herded into a barbaric prison camp.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Cross of Lorraine (1943)

Trace every key event in The Cross of Lorraine (1943) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

War breaks out and men enlist

As World War II erupts, men from all walks of life are drafted or enlist to fight. France mobilizes rapidly, facing the advance of German forces and a bleak future.

1939-1940 France
2

Defeat and armistice

Defeated by the invading Germans in 1940, Marshal Philippe Pétain signs an armistice that partitions the country. Rather than returning home, the soldiers are shipped to a brutal prison camp, beginning their ordeal.

1940 France
3

Arrival at the brutal prison camp

Captured soldiers are transported to a harsh camp where the guards' brutality and the threat of punishment loom large. The men must endure deprivations and separations that test their resolve early in captivity.

1940-1941 Prison camp
4

Father Sebastian offers solace

Father Sebastian, an army chaplain, counsels the prisoners and tries to keep their spirits intact. He provides wisdom and faith in the face of oppression, but his presence is abruptly cut short when he is killed.

1940-1941 Prison camp
5

Duval schemes for easier life and tries to recruit Paul

Duval forms an uneasy alliance with the jailers to gain favorable treatment for himself and to recruit Paul into collaboration. His self-serving choices sow distrust among the prisoners and intensify the tension.

1940-1941 Prison camp
6

A night of unrest and Duval's death

One night, the prisoners shove Duval into the yard, triggering the alarm. The guards shoot him by mistake as the camp cracks under mounting stress.

1940-1941 Prison camp yard
7

The Commandant's brutal policy

The Commandant orders the execution of every fourth prisoner, a cruel attempt to crush resistance. Paul witnesses this punishment from the Commandant's office and sees Victor, already in solitary, embody the damage inflicted by the system.

1940-1942 Prison camp
8

Victor's broken spirit

Victor has been broken by the relentless isolation and mistreatment in solitary confinement. His fragility becomes a stark symbol of the prisoners' struggle to remain human.

1940-1942 Prison cell
9

Paul becomes a worker and smuggler

Paul takes over Duval's duties, helping to smuggle perfume, silk garments, and other luxuries for Lieutenant Schmidt from the hospital to Occupied France. The operation relies on deception and careful movement across controlled zones.

1940-1942 Hospital and border crossing
10

Escape plan unfolds

Paul helps organize the escape of 15 prisoners by mixing them with 150 Alsatians being repatriated, hoping the deception will pass during roll call. The plan depends on precise timing and the guards' momentary distraction.

1941-1942 Prison camp and repatriation border
11

The doctor swaps Victor for a soldier

A doctor sedates Victor and places him in the soldier's place to maintain the ruse during the escape. Paul warns that outside help is uncertain and that risk remains high.

1941-1942 Prison camp / border
12

Pursuit and survival on the run

The escape caravan is pursued as the border looms, and Paul kills Sergeant Berger to secure their chance to flee. He and a frightened Victor traverse the countryside for days, determined to reach safety.

1941-1942 Border crossing
13

News of Allied landings and refuge in Cardignan

A village boy challenges the travelers with a question about what cross they bear as they press on. They learn the Americans have landed in North Africa and find shelter at René's home in Cardignan, planning to join Cartier's army in the mountains.

1942-1943 Cardignan, France
14

Confrontation in Cardignan and uprising

Nazis arrive to conscript 50 men from the village, triggering a fierce confrontation. Paul is shot in the arm as Victor kills the senior officer, sparking a village revolt; the residents burn Cardignan to deny it to the German troops and flee toward the mountains.

1943 Cardignan, village
15

Resistance grows and the film ends

The survivors join General Cartier's mountain army, continuing the fight against occupation. The film closes with La Marseillaise and the Cross of Lorraine raised over the French flag, signaling renewed resistance.

1943 French mountains

Last Updated: October 07, 2025 at 09:26

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The Cross of Lorraine Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Cross of Lorraine

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