The Spy in Black (1939)

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

J. Storer Clouston (novel)
Emeric Pressburger (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 October 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | War

Tagline:

Is this beauty friend or foe...as U-Boat terror at sea is directed by unknown master spies on land? Out of Europe's blackout of peace flashes the inside story of ruthless submarine warfare and incredible world-wide espionage!

Plot:

A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Blackout | Warship | Europe | Royal Navy

Cast

Conrad Veidt	...	Capt. Hardt
Sebastian Shaw	...	Lt. Ashington / Cmdr. David Blacklock
Valerie Hobson	...	Frau Tiel (schoolmistress) / Jill Blacklock
Marius Goring	...	Lt. Schuster
June Duprez	...	Anne Burnett
Athole Stewart	...	Rev. Hector Matthews
Agnes Lauchlan	...	Mrs. Matthews (as Agnes Laughlin)
Helen Haye	...	Mrs. Sedley
Cyril Raymond	...	Rev. John Harris
George Summers	...	Capt. Walter Ratter (ferry captain)
Hay Petrie	...	James, the Ferry Engineer
Grant Sutherland	...	Bob Bratt
Robert Rendel	...	Admiral
Mary Morris	...	Edwards, the Chauffeuse
Margaret Moffatt	...	Kate

Also Known As:

U-Boat 29 (USA)

Runtime:

82 min | USA:77 min | Argentina:80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Irving Asher Productions

Trivia:

The password that Hardt is to use for his contact is the opening line of Heine's poem Die Lorelei, in which a beautiful woman who lures sailors on the rocks is used as a symbol of homesickness. When his crew joke about him spouting love poetry to a woman in the dark, they miss half of the point.

Quotes:

The Reverand John Harris: That medal ribbon. I don't seem to recognise it. What is it?
Captain Hardt: The Iron Cross... Second Class.
The Reverand John Harris: Second Class... then you must be a prisoner of war?
Captain Hardt: No.
[draws gun]
Captain Hardt: You are.
The Reverand John Harris: Oh dear.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Dad's Army: The Big Parade (#4.1)" (1970)

The first Powell-Pressburger collaboration

This is an entertaining, well-made spy adventure set during World War I. Although made 60 years ago, the film has a sophisticated approach to the relationship between its three main characters. In particular, the natural attraction between the parts played by Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson is portrayed believably. Many of the supporting characters are also interesting; look out for Hay Petrie as the Scottish engineer aboard a ferry and an early appearance by Bernard Miles as a hotel desk clerk. Unlike the majority of British movies of this period, the film doesn't stereotype or make fun of its working-class characters.

The story has several good twists and an ironic climax. There are also some improbable coincidences, but no more than the typical James Bond movie.

Unlike Bond, however, "The Spy in Black" adopts a quite dark tone in its final 20 minutes. There is an almost tragic dignity and regret in the final scenes.

Director Michael Powell composes some interestingly-framed shots that make good use of Vincent Korda's sets. One of his favourite devices is to set a key character in sharp focus in the background while lesser parts stand or move slightly out-of-focus in the foreground. The effect is often quite striking.

This film marks Powell's first collaboration with the Hungarian writer Emeric Pressburger. The maturity of the romance between the leads and the snappiness of the dialogue are probably attributable to Pressburger's European upbringing.

Despite its age, "The Spy in Black" is well worth seeing just for the simple pleasures of a well-made entertainment executed with a little more care and imagination than usual.