Aventure Malgache

The second of Hitchcock’s propaganda films, and even more puzzling than the first one. The title translates as Malagasy Adventure, and Malagasy is Madagascar, which was a French colony when the war broke out. When Hitler overran France, the colonies had to decide whether to go with the traitors in the Vichy government, or the Gaullist government in exile. The story is told, for some reason, in flashbacks while some French actors discuss it as they prepare to go onstage. A man is thrown in prison, then given a choice between Devil’s Island and a cushier gaol on Madagascar. He gets away, and operates a clandestine radio station. And that’s it. It really doesn’t amount to anything at all. Can’t figure why it was made.