It is 1939 and Johnny Jones, a naive police reporter, is sent by his even more naive boss to cover a "crime" story that's unfolding in Europe: the potential outbreak of a second world war. Unprepared for the dangerous political landscape he's entering, Johnny manages to land smack in the middle of a spy ring that is .. Read more
| Starring | Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders |
|---|---|
| Director | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Genres | Thriller |
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It is 1939 and Johnny Jones, a naive police reporter, is sent by his even more naive boss to cover a "crime" story that's unfolding in Europe: the potential outbreak of a second world war. Unprepared for the dangerous political landscape he's entering, Johnny manages to land smack in the middle of a spy ring that is masquerading as a peace organization.
| Starring | Joel McCrea, Laraine Day, Herbert Marshall, George Sanders, Albert Bassermann, Edmund Gwenn, Harry Davenport, Eduardo Ciannelli, Charles Halton, Martin Kosleck |
|---|---|
| Director | Alfred Hitchcock |
| Studio | UNIVERSAL PICTURES UK |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 55 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Thriller |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 21 Apr 2003 Production year: 1940 |
| Format | DVD |
An immensely pleasurable spy story, set on the eve of the Second World War and ending with American reporter Joel McCrea warning of the danger to come. Director Alfred Hitchcock makes the most of some great set pieces, many of which are now acknowledged as key moments in the Hitchcock canon: an Amsterdam assassination (on a huge interior set) as umbrellas close ranks in the rain; tense moments inside a vast Dutch windmill; a plane crash where the air supply on board is slowly draining away; a remarkable sequence in Westminster Cathedral, where Hitchcock's memorial service was held in memory of this film. The plot's twists and turns are cleverly and wittily maintained, and the supporting cast is impeccably chosen, notably Edmund Gwenn as a most untrustworthy bodyguard and Albert Basserman as the Dutch diplomat whose kidnap kick-starts the plot. This film can also be viewed as a major propagandist work from a Briton in exile, and was recognised as such by Nazi minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels himself. Unfortunately, those are the aspects which have dated the film, and it is also impaired by the lightweight casting of McCrea (Hitch wanted Gary Cooper) and Laraine Day in the leading roles. No matter, this is still marvellous Hitchcock, with the Master clearly at his most playful.
Thoroughly typical and enjoyable Hitchcock adventure with a rambling script which builds up into brilliantly managed suspense sequences: an assassination, a windmill, an attempted murder in Westminster Cathedral, a plane crash at sea. The final speech was
This is not a Hitch (I can't use his full name as it won't get past this sites automatic censor) film that I had seen before and I don't think it is generally thought of as one of his best, but I really liked it. It is set on the eve of the last war and is the story of of an American correspondent who is on the trail of a ring of German spies who have kidnapped a Dutch diplomat to try to hasten the war. Interestingly, I don't think it ever mentions the Nazi's and certainly doesn't have the usual stereotypes. This may be because it was made in 1940, when America was still neutral. It has some classic Hitch set-piece scenes - probably more than usual- Such as the one where the hero is hiding in the gears of a creaking Dutch windmill watching the kidnapping taking place. The acting of the support caste (George Sanders, Herbert Marshall, Albert Bassermann & Edmund Gwenn) is excellent. Personally, I felt that the love story got in the way slightly - but I suppose you just have to put up with it.
This is a classic thriller. Takes one back to basics and the old 'black and white' scene. Not everybody's 'cup of tea' but well worth viewing. Alfred Hitch '(sorry review would not accept his full name, advised me to remove offensive language !!!!) still takes some beating.