The Seventh Cross is a 1944 American drama film, set in Nazi Germany, starring Spencer Tracy as a prisoner who escaped from a concentration camp.

The escapees are: a writer, a circus performer, a schoolmaster, a farmer, a Jewish grocery clerk, George Heisler, and his friend, Wallau.

With the dead Wallau narrating, the film follows Heisler as he makes his way across the German countryside, stealing a jacket to cover his prison garb.

The underground group gets false identification papers to Heisler and tells him where to rendezvous with a ship that will help him escape Germany.

Through his exposure to this courage and kindness, and with the help of the sympathetic waitress at the inn, Toni, Heisler regains his faith in humanity.

MGM publicity played up the fleeting romantic element between Tracy's character and that of the Swedish actress, Signe Hasso, with the tagline: "The revealing novel of a hunted man's search for love!

"[6] Film critic and author James Agee reviewed it in 1944: "...Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has used it, with every good intention I am sure, to crucify the possiblities of a very fine movie.

[1] Hume Cronyn received an Academy Award nomination as Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Paul Roeder.