Mademoiselle Fifi (1944) Val Lewton Simon Simone

One of the lesser-known works from the Val Lewton RKO shadowland. This is a non-horror production, it is based on the de Maupassant stories Boule de Suif (which also inspired Stagecoach) and Mademoiselle Fifi. The title does not refer to Simone's character, it refers to the sadistic Prussian officer (Kurt Krueger) who has a somewhat feminine appearance and mannerism; apparently Klaus Barbie was like this in real life.

The setting is the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, obviously Wise and Co. were thinking of WWII. The censorship of the time prevented the story from being told properly, a remake would be a good idea.

Despite this,it has good acting and is worth seeing, if only as one of Robert Wise's earliest pictures.

Ripped from tape. In VOB format, plays on VLC.