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The Spy in Black

  • 19391939
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 17m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
June Duprez, Valerie Hobson, Sebastian Shaw, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
  • Thriller
  • War
A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Michael Powell
  • Writers
    • J. Storer Clouston(story)
    • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
    • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Conrad Veidt
    • Valerie Hobson
    • Sebastian Shaw
Top credits
  • Director
    • Michael Powell
  • Writers
    • J. Storer Clouston(story)
    • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
    • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
  • Stars
    • Conrad Veidt
    • Valerie Hobson
    • Sebastian Shaw
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Photos33

    Marius Goring and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Cyril Chamberlain, Marius Goring, Torin Thatcher, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Marius Goring and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Sebastian Shaw and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
    Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Conrad Veidt
    Conrad Veidt
    • Captain Ernst Hardtas Captain Ernst Hardt
    Valerie Hobson
    Valerie Hobson
    • The School Mistressas The School Mistress
    Sebastian Shaw
    Sebastian Shaw
    • Ashingtonas Ashington
    Marius Goring
    Marius Goring
    • Lieutenant Felix Schusteras Lieutenant Felix Schuster
    June Duprez
    June Duprez
    • Anne Burnettas Anne Burnett
    Athole Stewart
    • The Rev. Hector Matthewsas The Rev. Hector Matthews
    Agnes Lauchlan
    • Mrs. Matthewsas Mrs. Matthews
    Helen Haye
    Helen Haye
    • Mrs. Sedleyas Mrs. Sedley
    Cyril Raymond
    Cyril Raymond
    • The Rev. John Harrisas The Rev. John Harris
    George Summers
    • Captain Ratteras Captain Ratter
    Hay Petrie
    Hay Petrie
    • Engineeras Engineer
    Grant Sutherland
    • Bob Brattas Bob Bratt
    Robert Rendel
    Robert Rendel
    • Admiralas Admiral
    Mary Morris
    Mary Morris
    • Chauffeuseas Chauffeuse
    Margaret Moffat
    • Kateas Kate
    • (as Margaret Moffatt)
    Kenneth Warrington
    • Commander Denisas Commander Denis
    Torin Thatcher
    Torin Thatcher
    • Submarine Officeras Submarine Officer
    Esma Cannon
    Esma Cannon
    • Maggieas Maggie
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Powell
    • Writers
      • J. Storer Clouston(story)
      • Emeric Pressburger(screenplay)
      • Roland Pertwee(scenario)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • Goofs
      In the German submarine, the officers refer to depths in feet, and the depth gauge is calibrated in feet. On a German ship, depths would be measured in meters.
    • 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.

    • Crazy credits
      The distributor in the film's opening credits is shown as: KEY TO SUCCESS Key Films Distributors Ltd. presents
    • Connections
      Featured in Dad's Army: The Big Parade (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Die Wacht am Rhein
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Carl Wilhelm

      (played in the restaurant at the movie's beginning)

    User reviews23

    Review
    Top review
    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.
    helpful•64
    2
    • Watuma
    • Nov 5, 1999

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 7, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • U-Boat 29
    • Filming locations
      • Orkney, Scotland, UK
    • Production company
      • Irving Asher Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £47,300 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 17 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

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    June Duprez, Valerie Hobson, Sebastian Shaw, and Conrad Veidt in The Spy in Black (1939)
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