I have seen only three people commented on Crossing To Freedom, but for anyone who wants to see it, you can on YouTube ( although the print is not the best ( misses about 30 seconds and has commercials). But it is well worth seeing. I actually prefer it to the Monty Woolley original. I know Woolley was nominated for an Oscar for the Pied Piper ( the original title)., but he was not the actor Peter O'Toole was ( not even close)., and this version was shot on location in France instead of the 20th Century Fox backlot. For those unfamiliar with the story it is about a 70 year old Englishman ( O'Toole) who is stuck in France when the Germans invade. He hets talked into bringing kids back with him, and he picks up more along the way. He also meets Nicole ( Mare Winningham) who was close to his son who was killed early in the war. The highlight of the movie is how O'Toole's character John Sidney Howard stands up to a Nazi Gestapo Major named Diessen and is able to gain his respect. Spoilers ahead . Diessen had one weakness: A little niece who despite being half Jewish, he actually loved, and because of that and her parents being killed he needed to get her out of the country. He has a brother in Minnesota, and at the time the United States was a neutral country so she could go there. So the deal was Howard and the kids can go but Nicole will be a hostage until his brother gets the little girl. Diessen admits that he and Howard need each other. Howard will fulfill his part of the bargain and Diessen will let Nicole go, otherwise Howard will tell the story and the Nazi's will deal with Diessen harshly for having and saving a Jewish niece. At the very end, all of the kids will actually go to Howard's daughter's until the war's end ( except the German girl of course), and Nicole who has no one will actually go live with Howard, and become a daughter to him. In the final scene you see the German girl, grab and hold Howard's hand. 9/10 stars
Review of Crossing to Freedom
