The Trivia Hound

642. Occupied France, May 1944

Jim got #641!


The Germans know the Allies are planning an attack--they just don't know when or where. So they have a plan: take a captured soldier, make him appear aged, and convince him he has amnesia and the war is over. Once he's convinced, he'll talk about the US strategy. Clever idea, but will it work?


| posted by John, 8:53 AM

7 Comments:

The film is called 36 Hours. Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint watch as a Doc tries to make James Garner appear much older.
Blogger Jim, at 11:32 AM  
Thanks, Jim!

That's two in a row with James Garner!
Blogger John, at 11:35 AM  
I guess John Wayne didn't win WWII - it was really James Garner ! He was in The Great Escape, Emily, and now 36 Hours.
Blogger Jim, at 11:37 AM  
This movie was based on a Roald Dahl short story called "Beware of Dog." In the story he figures out he's in occupied France when he looks out the window and sees a sign that says "Garde au Chien."
Blogger John, at 11:39 AM  
LOL. You're right; I'd forgotten he was in The Great Escape
Blogger John, at 11:42 AM  
Yes, I've taught "Beware of Dog" to Freshmen for many years. The point in the story is that the Germans try to make the pilot think he is safe in Brighton, England. So when he sees a French sign out of his hospital window, he knows he is in conquered territory.
Blogger Jim, at 12:38 PM  
The story reminds me of an episode of Mission Impossible* where they had captured Henry Silva and they needed his intel. They knew he wouldn't give it to them, so they brainwashed him in an elaborate scheme to get him to tell. Of course, in that show it worked.

*Of course I mean the TV show, not the abysmal Cruise-fest films.
Blogger John, at 1:58 PM  

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