Rotten Tomatoes
Suggestions will appear as you start typing. Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Passage to Marseille

Play trailer Poster for Passage to Marseille 1944 1h 49m Adventure War History Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 58% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
During World War II, a French ship finds five men drifting in a small boat. Once aboard, the men tell the ship's captain, Patain Malo, that they are convicts who escaped prison, led by Jean Matrac, to fight in the war. As the ship nears its destination in Marseille, France surrenders to Germany, but Malo decides to hide the prisoners. When traitorous Major Duval tries to overtake the ship, Matrac and the others work to defeat him.
Watch on Fandango Stream Now

Where to Watch

Passage to Marseille

Critics Reviews

View More
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Apr 5, 2026
2.5/4
This one employs flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks (whew!). Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand Apr 29, 2025
This is shameless wartime propaganda, a rousing call to arms to free Europe from the Nazis and the turncoat collaborators... but it is also enormously entertaining and action-packed. Go to Full Review Yasser Medina Cinefilia Apr 22, 2023
6/10
I'm afraid that even the wide cast of actors commanded by Bogart is not enough to elevate a war adventure that sinks in predictable waters at the service of the most obvious patriotic propaganda. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Nathanael Hood The Retro Set Dec 29, 2018
5/10
...a thoroughly mediocre military melodrama... Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Apr 17, 2011
B-
Sort of a class reunion of Casablanca, but not as good, reuniting Bogart, director Curtiz and other key players of that cult picture. Go to Full Review Michael W. Phillips, Jr. Goatdog's Movies Jun 9, 2006
3/5
A slightly above average war thriller. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
John P. @jimmie1959 Mar 28, 2026 Excellent historical film with lessons regarding appeasement, the Maginot line and French Resistance in WWII. See more Fred F @RT62908209 Aug 13, 2025 I really liked this movie when I first saw it 40 years ago and when I watched it again recently after my brother called it one of the worst movies ever made. One thing that none of the other reviews mention is that the whole movie is a series of flashbacks within flashbacks, the total number of which is about five, certainly the most I have ever seen. See more Steve D @RT35616104 Jun 27, 2023 Not worthy of its cast. See more Russ G @RT78760655 Sep 25, 2022 A sort of sequel to Casablanca, but despite the presence of Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, and Peter Lorre, We know Casablanca. We Love Casablanca. THIS is no Casablanca! Implausible even for a propaganda film made at the height of the war. Now, many elements of Casablanca were implausible, but somehow it was pulled off, as the story centers on sympathetic characters not hokey [but standard for the era and the budget] special effects. Here it isn't. A four-engined DIVE BOMBER, anyone? BTW, anyone notice our protagonist committing a WAR CRIME by machine-gunning the downed German fliers? But, it's No Biggie 'cuz the movie makers were deliberately aiming to whip up hatred against the enemy. About the only real parallel between the two films is that in both roles Bogey's character is self-centered but transforms into a selfless hero dedicated to a greater cause. See more Jared D @RT74006010 Oct 25, 2021 Great cast used to very mixed results here. Its famous (and confusing) flashback within a flashback within a flashback structure tends to slow it down -- but the various elements and/or sequences of the film are very well done. The cinematography is outstanding! See more Bob S @RT16886619 Jan 14, 2018 Of course it's not Casablanca. Lightening rarely strikes twice. However, the movie is well written and well acted. See more Read all reviews
Passage to Marseille

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Cast & Crew

View All

Michael Curtiz

Director

Humphrey Bogart

Jean Matrac

Michèle Morgan

Paula Matrac

Claude Rains

Capt. Freycinet

Philip Dorn

Renault

Sydney Greenstreet

Maj. Duval

More Like This

View All
Objective, Burma! 86% 73% Objective, Burma! Watchlist Operation Pacific 20% 51% Operation Pacific Watchlist The Fighting 69th 71% 55% The Fighting 69th Watchlist Sahara 92% 86% Sahara Watchlist Five Graves to Cairo 100% 80% Five Graves to Cairo Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More
View All

Passage to Marseille

Passage to Marseille (1944) Passage to Marseille (1944) Passage to Marseille (1944) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, a French ship finds five men drifting in a small boat. Once aboard, the men tell the ship's captain, Patain Malo, that they are convicts who escaped prison, led by Jean Matrac, to fight in the war. As the ship nears its destination in Marseille, France surrenders to Germany, but Malo decides to hide the prisoners. When traitorous Major Duval tries to overtake the ship, Matrac and the others work to defeat him.
Director
Michael Curtiz
Producer
Hal B. Wallis
Screenwriter
Casey Robinson, Jack Moffitt
Production Co
Warner Bros.
Genre
Adventure, War, History, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 16, 1944, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 21, 2016
Runtime
1h 49m
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings