Herr Gable / Lentéric – Linwood Messina

Information

Author:

Jean-Baptiste Lentéric

Date:

Editions Belfond
Winter 2022

Author:

Additional Info

HERR GABLE

Rights Holder: Editions Belfond
Original Language: French

February 1943. After six months of relentless combat, Hitler’s troops lose the Battle of Stalingrad 700 000 German soldiers died for nothing. It’s the turning point of the war. Certain ranking office of the Wehrmacht no longer believe victory is possible.

In Berghof, far from the horrors of the Eastern Front, the Führer and Eva Braun spend their days in peace. They enjoy lounging about with their dogs on the panoramic terrace that looks out onto the Bavarian Alps. It’s in part, from this mountain home, that the chancellor leads his war against the Allies. It’s always where he enjoys watching American films. Especially those starring Clark Gable whom he considers to be the greatest living actor.

After the death of his wife Carole Lombard, Gable joins the US Air Force and is apart of missions to bomb Germany. When Hitler learns that his favorite actor is against him, he orders his capture. Martin Bormann, Hitler’s personal secretary, is tasked with finding the officer who is the most qualified for this unusual mission. After having studied countless profiles, Bormann is intrigued by a young sharpshooter who has already successfully completely several dangerous missions: Captain Florian Weiter.

During a mussion, the B-17 that Gable is flying is shot down and crashes in the Chevreuse Valley, near Paris. But not before Gable managed to eject himself and parachute to safety, helped by the Resistants. But German radars were able to locate the crash site and so Captain Weiter is sent to France which leads to the improbable meeting between Adolf Hitler and Clark Gable.

Jean-Baptiste Lentéric worked as an assistant director notably for the prestigious director Samuel Fuller. He now writes full-time.

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