There's no denying that this film was designed to capitalize on the phenomenal success of Warner Bros earlier hit, Casablanca. Stars Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains return to work with director Michael Curtiz and composer Max Steiner, along with several other actors from Casablanca such as Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and even the singer Corinna Mura.

Unfortunately the story serves as little more than a propaganda piece for Free France, an admirable cause that sadly comes off as somewhat forced and artificial (imagine an entire movie set to the tone of the famous "La Marseillaise" scene in Casablanca and you'll get the idea). The script doesn't do anyone any favors, layering flashback upon flashback upon flashback until all narrative momentum is completely muddled and lost. Add in a random and underdeveloped love interest, along with one very tonally awkward scene of Bogart machine-gunning surrendered German pilots, and you have one very mediocre film.