Trailer

Foreign Correspondent (1940)

Passed   |    |  Action, Romance, Thriller

Foreign Correspondent (1940) Poster

On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.

7.5/10
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  • Albert Bassermann and Eduardo Ciannelli in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  • Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  • Martin Kosleck and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  • Albert Bassermann in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  • Foreign Correspondent (1940)
  • Albert Bassermann in Foreign Correspondent (1940)

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Awards

Nominated for 6 Oscars.

Another 1 win.

Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
15 January 2001 | Jerry_Horne
9
| Hitch was firing on all cylinders
This film is a true gem, that had all of the touches we have come to associate with films of the master. While "Rebecca" (from the same year) may have garnered more recognition, it was an extremely brooding film that lacked the trademark Hitchcock sense of humor.

"Foreign Correspondent" however, had it all. The suspense is unrelenting, building to a spectacular climax. It had many of those dazzling Hitchcock sequences: the assassination in Amsterdam, the scene in the cathedral tower and, especially, the sequence in the windmill, which is pure magic!

Of course, it also had that classic sense of humor and a slew of terrific character roles, including Edmund Gwenn as the most cherubic and cheerful hit man you've ever seen! The final scene was strictly American propaganda, but that can probably be forgiven considering the subject matter of the film and the time of it's release.

All in all, a wonderful example of the master at his best, that deserves to be dusted off and enjoyed alongside some of it's more celebrated cousins!

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although Germans enjoyed this movie when it was released in 1940, they weren't happy about the current ending written by Ben Hecht. Germans disliked the ending because it made it look like it was Germany who was attacking Great Britain, although it was Great Britain who declared war on Germany on September 3, 1939, and it was Great Britain who rejected the peace offers sent to them by National Socialist Germany under Adolf Hitler.

Quotes

John Jones: I thought you were cold on this story.
Scott ffolliott: On the contrary, I've been doing what you might call a bit of noticing.

Goofs

When the headlight on ffolliott's car is shot, a different car is used. All other shots of the car's front show it having auxiliary driving lights below the headlights.

Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: To those intrepid ones who went across the seas to be the eyes and ears of America... To those forthright ones who early saw the clouds of war while many of us at home were seeing rainbows... To those clear-headed ones who now stand like recording angels among the dead and dying... To the Foreign Correspondents - this motion picture is dedicated.

Alternate Versions

In the German version the final radio address was missing. The movie ends with the newspaper headlines.

Soundtracks

Roses from the South, Opus 388
(1880) (uncredited)
Composed by Johann Strauss
Background music at a party

Storyline

Plot Summary

Synopsis (WARNING: Spoilers)

Genres

Action | Romance | Thriller | War

Details

Release Date:

16 August 1940

Language

English, Dutch, German, Latvian

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

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