The Impostor (1944)

The Impostor is one of French film favorite Jean Gabin's two wartime Hollywood vehicles. Adapted by Stephen Longstreet and Marc Connelly from a screenplay by director Julien Duvivier, the story concerns a condemned murderer named Clement (Jean Gabin), who is "liberated" when the Nazis bomb the French jail that holds him. During his escape, Clement comes across the body of a French soldier; he steals the dead man's uniform and identification papers, then hides from the law by joining the Resistance movement. Clement's new identity and purpose in life reforms him, and in due time he has sacrificed himself in service of his country. The huge cast includes such familiar Hollywood faces as Richard Whorf, Ellen Drew, Allyn Joslyn, Ralph Morgan, John Qualen, Milburn Stone, Fritz Leiber and Peter Cookson. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi