A Bad Decade for the French: Lost Command

Lost Command (1966)

The 20th Century was a bad epoch for the French; they went 0 for 4 in the major wars they were involved in and yet have retained a sneering arrogance, despite the fact that they have little to be proud of. This attitude vexes me, as I have French blood myself, but I have no control over the politicians the French elect and am therefore embarrassed at their role on the world stage in the more than two centuries since Marquis de Lafayette so gallantly aided the colonists to throw off the yoke of British tyranny.

Following the 1945 unconditional surrender of Hitler's Germany and Hirohito's Japan, the French political leaders, slinking back from their forced exile, sought to regain their pre-war colonies in Asia and Africa. Unfortunately for their pretensions, the war had changed the opinions of the colonials and resistance groups sprang up. In Indochina, they were led by Ho Chi Minh, who drove the French out in 1954. On May 8 of that year, the Viet Mihn ended French occupation of Indochina by overrunning the French stronghold at Dien Bien Phu and capturing the garrison. In 1960, the French were driven out of Algeria by the FLN (Front de Liberation National), or rather the French slunk out, after 100 years of colonization. Truly, the 1950s were a decade the French would rather forget.

In Lost Command, These two events are seen through the eyes of Lieutenant Colonel Pierre Raspeguy (Anthony Quinn -Lawrence of Arabia*****, Zorba the Greek****, The Guns of Navarone****) a Basque peasant who has somehow become an officer in the French Army.

We join Col. Raspeguy under fire from the Viet Minh on that fateful day in 1954 when Dien Bien Phu, French Indochina fell. Heavily outnumbered, Raspeguy and the remains of his regiment are forced to watch as French paratroopers sent to reinforce the beleaguered position die from enemy fire before they touch the ground or shortly after from French mines. A major is dragged across a mine by his billowing parachute and killed. This man becomes instrumental in Raspeguy's future as, once released from the Viet Minh prison camp and returned to France, Raspeguy is relieved from his command by the ungrateful Army GHQ.

The major's widow, a countess with high political connections, at first spurns Raspeguy's advances, then embraces the lusty peasant (after all, it's Anthony Quinn) and puts him in touch with her uncle who has the power to reinstate him. Of course he does, but if Raspeguy only knew what was in store, he might better have resigned. In only a few short years Charles De Gaulle would sell out the Algerian colonists and the Army and withdraw in ignominy from France's erstwhile colony.

Lost Command does a good job of showing the prowess of the French fighting man, who has to contend with politicians who urge them on while simultaneously tying their hands. Quinn shows this frustration and dramatic tension is added by one of his Indochinese compatriots, Lt. Mahidi (George Segal as an Arab!) going over to the FLN after his younger brother is killed by the French for painting pro-independence grafitti.

Balancing the grim determination of Raspeguy and his eager minion Capitaine Boisfeuras (Maurice Ronet) to win glory at all costs is the undermining influence of Capitaine Esclavier (Alain Delon - Scorpio****). Unfortunately, the two younger men are difficult to tell apart and keeping track of the "bad guy" ain't easy. Adding a welcome bit of cheesecake to the mix is Aitcha (Claudia Cardinale - The Professionals****) one of the Arab women who smuggles bombs and guns in and out of the Casbah.

Mercifully for French pride Lost Command ends with a victory over the FLN but there is a humorous note that foretells that the last word has yet to be spoken.

Acting by Quinn and George Segal (The Bridge at Remagen****) is especially good with Maurice Ronet and Claudia Cardinale providing good support. Alain Delon, usually a favorite of mine, is a little depressing as the sanctimonious Capitaine Esclavier. Composer Franz Waxman contributes a great score, as he always does.

The Columbia DVD is presented in 2.35:1 theatrical format in crystal clear color. The film, clocking in at 2 hours and 10 minutes is overlong and some judicious editing would have made it a tighter and better movie. All in all, Lost Command is an infrequently seen but good depiction of French military history in the 1950s.

For the aftermath of the French loss of Algeria, I highly recommend the stunning thriller The Day of the Jackal, from the Frederick Forsythe book.

A Savage War of Peace, by Alistair Horne is a good book that I recommend concerning the Algerian War.

Thanks for reading!