THE CAPTIVE HEART is one of the earlier movies from Ealing Studios, made before they were known for their genteel, witty comedies. It's a standard WW2 prisoner of war flick, with a greater depth of characterisation than most. At times it gets into romantic and tragic territory, recalling the likes of BRIEF ENCOUNTER, but it also includes some genre tropes and ideas which add excitement. As with many British war films of this era, most of the fun comes from seeing an ensemble cast doing their bit, from the big names like Michael Redgrave and Mervyn Johns right through to the smaller parts from the youthful Gordon Jackson and Sam Kydd.
Review of J'étais un prisonnier
