It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

For me, as a teenager, it was definitely an education that some film structures are not simple, and sometimes, complexity can add an interesting narrative. Having discovered Bogart through war dramas such as "All Through the Night", "Across the Pacific" and of course "Casablanca", I was intrigued by this film which reunited many of the actors featured in those three films. They all have one thing in common, the allies of World War II fighting the enemy in one way or another. This drama does indeed feature several flashbacks within the main and sub narratives, but at least, once you are used to that structure (or have seen it multiple times), it becomes easier to follow.Bogart is seen in the opening sequences but his character does not really get a story until the fourth flashback within the third flashback. Moving along like this was Merlin's life in reverse, it does take some getting used to. The narrative is provided in a story told by Claude Rains who proves that he does know if the meaning of a beautiful friendship. Bogart is a French war hero who, according to Rains, suffered much indignity at the hands of law keepers in a South American version of Hell's Island. Old Warner pals like Peter Lorre and George Tobias are among his escapees, aided when rescued by Rains but endangered with being turned over to the police by fellow officer Sydney Greenstreet. The plot line deals with the efforts of these pretty unsavory characters to return to France to fight against the Nazis. Even if somewhat amoral, they are all patriotic. That was the purpose of these war propaganda films, some better than others, but some of the best coming out of Warner Brothers.Michael Curtiz gets an almost perfect gem with four of his "Casablanca" cast members providing outstanding performances. Philip Dorn is almost a replica of Paul Henreid, while Bogart's arrest in Marsaille is almost identical to his separation with Ingrid Bergman in Paris in regards to wife Michele Morgan. The tension is constant, aided by beautiful photography, sharp editing and an excellent musical score. Of course, Warners really had the best sound department in the movies. Greenstreet makes an intriguing villain (aided by Hans Conreid), and Peter Lorre, while rather underused, gets some of the best lines. This isn't a film to have in the background. It is one that requires focus and at just under two hours, it flies by.

See it – This is more of an adventure movie, but it takes place during WWII, so we'll call it a war movie. The story is told in a flashback, and flashbacks within the flashback. Humphrey Bogart stars as a patriotic French convict who escapes from his island prison and journeys thousands of miles to help his country fight in the war. Adventures take place over land, air, and sea. The scene where Bogart is furiously firing his machine gun from the ship deck railing at attacking German aircraft is one the most iconic moments in early Hollywood history. I love watching WWII movies that were made while the actual war was still going on. This inspirational classic is heroic and tragic, yet full of hope. 2.5 action rating.

"Passage to Marseille" is a Warner Brothers film starring the usual Warner Brothers stellar cast: Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Claude Rains, and also featuring Michele Morgan, George Tobias, Helmut Dantine, Philip Dorn, and John Loder. Though no one seems to like the comparison with "Casablanca," it does seem to be trying to cash in on that film's huge success when one considers the cast and Bogie's conflicted character. But "Passage to Marseille" is a good film on its own, despite the obvious comparisons.The story is told in flashback, and also in a flashback within a flashback. The film begins in a secret base in France that's disguised as a farm, and one of the characters asks Captain Freycinet (Rains) about a pilot (Bogart). Turns out that Bogart, Lorre, Tobias, Dantine, and several other men are Devil's Island escapees who were picked up by a ship, Ville de Nancy, which is on its way to Marseille. The sympathetic captain hears their individual stories. All want to fight for France.Matrac (Bogart) was a journalist opposed to the Munich Pact, and the newspaper he worked for was leveled to the ground. The focus is mainly on his character; he has left a wife (Michele Morgan) and a little boy he's never seen.Some very exciting scenes in this entertaining and often poignant film, sturdily directed by Michael Curtiz, with excellent performances. Definitely worth seeing, even if it's not the best of the WW II genre.

This film was a great document for the resistance of France during Nazi occupation in France during WWII in 1940 and the courage of Charles Degaulle after his refuse for the decision of general Philip Bataan the president of Vichi french government under occupation in 1940 and he went to England at the time of Primier Churchill that he supported Degaulle in his resistance to give France her liberty under (Le Croix Lorinne) the cross of (Joan of Arc) during her resistance against English occupation in France in 15th century.Degaulle used this cross in the french flag of the (French Free government) that was presented by him in england and after this way that was transported in Tchad and Algeria to make a collection for the different departments of French army to make the french Independence by their shoulders.That,s the end of final massage at the end of this film that Boggy sent with his corpse a massage for his son to complete with his friends and partners the french dream of making liberty to France under the spiritual leading by Degaulle the (Taste of freedom) after that in 1944 that made a liberty of France by french shoulders by the allies of England , U.S.A , soviet union but the under french responsibility in (Normandi) to be French forever.