The Last Chance (1945) Director: Leopold Lindtberg Studio: Praesens-Film (Switzerland) Starring: E.G. Morrison (Lieutenant Halliday), John Hoy (Sergeant Braddock), Luisa Rossi (Francesca), Ray Reagan, Robert Englander Release Date: December 1945 (Switzerland) Runtime: 93 minutes Format: Black & White | Mono | Sound | Live Action Country: Switzerland Language: English / German / Italian (subtitled) Genres: War | Drama | Historical | Humanitarian | Neo-Realism --- Summary: The Last Chance is a powerful wartime drama following two Allied soldiers—Lieutenant Halliday and Sergeant Braddock—who escape from a German POW train in Italy during the final years of World War II. As they flee north toward Switzerland, they join a group of refugees from across Europe: Jewish survivors, Italian civilians, and others fleeing Nazi oppression. Together, they face capture, betrayal, and impossible odds as they risk everything for a final shot at freedom. A moving tale of courage, sacrifice, and solidarity, The Last Chance blends realistic performances with a documentary-like tone, offering a deeply human portrayal of war's displaced and desperate. --- Background: Directed by Austrian-Swiss filmmaker Leopold Lindtberg, The Last Chance was produced in neutral Switzerland shortly after the war ended. It featured mostly non-professional actors, including real soldiers and refugees, lending the film a stark authenticity. The script was inspired by true accounts of Allied escapes and civilian suffering during the collapse of fascist Italy. A major success in post-war Europe, the film received international acclaim and won awards at Cannes and the Golden Globe Awards. It is considered one of the earliest examples of postwar humanist cinema, predating the Italian Neorealist movement in tone and approach. --- Trivia: Won the Grand Prize (Best Social Film) at the 1946 Cannes Film Festival. Also won the 1947 Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film. Most of the cast were amateurs—including real British POWs and displaced persons. Shot in actual refugee camps and Alpine locations near the Swiss-Italian border. Reflects Switzerland's complex role during WWII and its humanitarian stance. Often used in film studies courses for its early realist style and moral themes. The film is in the public domain in some regions and accessible via film archives and classic collections. --- Hashtags: #TheLastChance1945 #WWIIDrama #SwissCinema #LeopoldLindtberg #PostwarFilm #CannesWinner #GoldenGlobeWinner #NeoRealism #HumanitarianCinema #PublicDomainFilm #ClassicWarMovie #RefugeeStory #WWIIFilm #VintageDrama #EscapeToFreedom #HistoricalCinema #POWStory #UnderratedClassic #1940sFilm #RealismInFilm