Foreign Correspondent Reviews

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.

[Highly rated reviewer]

One of his finest

Hitchcock's second American film was quickly knocked out after 'Rebecca', and largely as a swift propaganda piece to try to pull American into the war. It certainly pulls the audience in, with its labyrinthine fast-paced tale of kidnapped scientists and evil conspiracies. We even get a plane crash at sea sequence thrown in. Often overlooked in the Hitchcock canon, this is actually one of his unsung treasures, the work of a director well and truly on the top of his game.

Old-fashioned early Hitch classic

Slightly old-fashioned (cloying, facile) masterpiece with the humour not as far as one would have liked from a 'Fred and Ginger'-type romp. Definitely some great and resonant set-pieces - the windmill, the assassination - and the usual Hitch-ian mastery of plotting/ suspense, but perhaps a bit too 'jolly' overall, too light and unfocussed, although it does have some properly nasty evil moments, which in this jolly context are all the more shocking.

Not classic Hitchcock but not bad.

I rented this film as I am a fan of the late great George Sanders, he gives a nice fresh performance from early in his career.

The story and production itself I found pretty weak and the special effects/backgrounds of Holland were poorly done.

However it rolled along and kept my attention for the duration, not one of Hitchcock's best but we all have to start somwhere, and we are all allowed the odd lame duck.

Watchable, for old Hitchcock film fans only.

Classic

A great classic from the 40s

[Highly rated reviewer]

hitchcock

A classic by alfred hitchcock.

Joel McRea!

Early Joel McRea movies were brilliant and Foreign Correspondent being among the best, Joel made quite a few spy movies at the time and I hope to see more of them given the chance.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Foreign News

Was an indeph film for me and not normally one I would pick, but as it was a Hitchcock I had to to see it.

The story was good and the acting was ok, could have been better, but was an new film for Hitchcock so there you go.

Foreign Correspondent

I enjoyed the film though I found it slow at times.A foeign correpondent finds himself in Holland finding there is a conspiracy for murder.He finds out that there are some spies around and his life is in danger.He is hidden in a windmill by the Dutch and he reveals what he has found out.The film does not appear to be done by Hitch as most of his films always had a twist to them,but a thriller to watch.