Mademoiselle Fifi (film)

Mademoiselle Fifi is a 1944 American period film directed by Robert Wise for RKO, in his solo directorial debut. It was written by Josef Mischel and Peter Ruric based on two short stories by Guy de Maupassant, Mademoiselle Fifi and Boule de Suif. The film features an ensemble cast headed by Simone Simon, John Emery and Kurt Kreuger, and was produced by noted Bfilm producer Val Lewton. Produced during the Second World War, the film is guilty of instances of Propaganda common at the time, such as the overly harsh depictions of the Prussians, and the patriotic, freedom loving French characters who were liberated from German Occupation the year of its release.

The next morning, when the coach departs with Lt. von Eyrick travelling with them all the travellers except Cornudet and the priest ostentatiously snub Elizabeth, while chatting and gossiping with the Prussian. At Cleresville, after Elizabeth, the priest and von Eyrick leave the coach, Cornudet is overcome by guilt at his previous actions, tells the group off and leaves to seek Elizabeth out. He tries to apologize to her, but she rejects him even so, she has stirred his patriotism again.The young priest has taken over from the previous cur who defied the Prussians by refusing to ring the church bell, and he has decided to continue that defiance the bell will remain silent until the first blow is struck for the freedom of France. The Prussian Captain in charge of the village wants the French to submit to them, and ring the bell themselves We do not win, explains Lt. von Eyrick, unless our opponents ring the bell, but one of his subordinates has vowed that on his next patrol, he will ring the bell himself. Cornudet hears this, and prepares to protect the bell. That night, when the Prussians approach the church to ring the bell, he shoots and kills a lancer charging toward him on horseback. ........

Source: Wikipedia