Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
"O.S.S." is the first official film made about the Office of Strategic Services, a department bent on patriotic loyalty and luring spies into Nazi-occupied territory (its formation eventually led to the creation of the CIA). You know it is official because right at the start of the film, title cards indicate this department's declaration to the making of this film and its accuracy. Despite its sealed stamped approval and how it was rushed into theaters, "O.S.S." could be see as another run-of-the-mill WWII action film but it has some decent performances and some remarkable tension sprinkled throughout.
We are introduced to Alan Ladd as John Martin, who has a dry practice run of pretending to be a Baltimore electronics official who steals some plans - the ruse doesn't pan out but it shows John has some capability as an agent. A team is arranged by Naval Commander Brady (Patric Knowles) and they are commissioned to run the "Operation Applejack" mission to Nazi-Occupied France. John has reservations about a woman spy, Ellen aka Elaine Dupree (Geraldine Fitzgerald), because she is, pardon the expression, a woman. It turns out that she is more than capable herself, more so than the leader, Gates (Don Beddoe) who is killed by the Gestapo for the subtle mistake of using a fork on his right hand rather than the left!
"O.S.S." has a truly charming and evil Nazi Colonel (John Hoyt in his debut performance), Nazis who cooperate with the American spies, typical flying missions where soldiers parachute onto hostile territory, igniting bombs inside of sculptures and a radio operator, Bernay (Richard Benedict), who falls for the female military radio contact he send messages to! (This burgeoning love is between two people who have never met). The Bernay section is quite stirring particularly in scenes where he is transmitting codes that make the lamplight and apartment hallway lights flicker. Not every American agent makes it out alive and some are assumed to be meeting their maker. "O.S.S." is sheer propaganda yet it is fast-paced and often intense enough in its endless confrontations with Nazis. Scenes with Hoyt's Nazi who falls for Fitzgerald's Elaine are crackling, enthralling moments because we never know if he is onto her or not. Ladd shows strength and subdued romantic feelings for Elaine without ever showing his emotions. It is that kind of war picture.
