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Foreign Correspondent

  • 19401940
  • PassedPassed
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
22K
YOUR RATING
Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:22
1 Video
66 Photos
ActionRomanceThriller
On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.On the eve of World War II, a young American reporter tries to expose enemy agents in London.
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
22K
YOUR RATING
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
    • James Hilton(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Joel McCrea
    • Laraine Day
    • Herbert Marshall
    • Alfred Hitchcock
  • Writers
    • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
    • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
    • James Hilton(dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Joel McCrea
    • Laraine Day
    • Herbert Marshall
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 171User reviews
    • 72Critic reviews
    • 89Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 6 Oscars

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:22
    Watch Trailer

    Photos66

    George Sanders, Robert Benchley, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Albert Bassermann, Martin Kosleck, and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Martin Kosleck and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Martin Kosleck and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)
    Foreign Correspondent (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Joel McCrea
    Joel McCrea
    • John Jones
    Laraine Day
    Laraine Day
    • Carol Fisher
    Herbert Marshall
    Herbert Marshall
    • Stephen Fisher
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Scott ffolliott
    Albert Bassermann
    Albert Bassermann
    • Van Meer
    • (as Albert Basserman)
    Robert Benchley
    Robert Benchley
    • Stebbins
    Edmund Gwenn
    Edmund Gwenn
    • Rowley
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    Eduardo Ciannelli
    • Mr. Krug
    • (as Eduardo Cianelli)
    Harry Davenport
    Harry Davenport
    • Mr. Powers
    Martin Kosleck
    Martin Kosleck
    • Tramp
    Frances Carson
    Frances Carson
    • Mrs. Sprague
    Ian Wolfe
    Ian Wolfe
    • Stiles
    Charles Wagenheim
    Charles Wagenheim
    • Assassin
    Eddie Conrad
    Eddie Conrad
    • Latvian
    • (as Edward Conrad)
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Bradley
    Barbara Pepper
    Barbara Pepper
    • Dorine
    Emory Parnell
    Emory Parnell
    • Captain John Mark
    Roy Gordon
    Roy Gordon
    • Mr. Brood
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writers
      • Charles Bennett(screenplay)
      • Joan Harrison(screenplay)
      • James Hilton(dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shooting was completed on May 29, 1940, after which director Alfred Hitchcock made a visit to England. He returned on July 3 with the word that the Germans were expected to start bombing at any time. Ben Hecht was hurriedly called in and wrote the tacked-on final scene set at a London radio station. It was filmed on July 5, and the real-life bombing started on July 10, 1940.
    • Goofs
      As the purser on the ship tells John and Carol that he has no more cabins, the right side of his fake moustache can be seen sliding down. He surreptitiously pushes back it in place, but as they turn back for a second try and he continues speaking, the moustache slides down again.
    • Quotes

      John Jones: I'm in love with you, and I want to marry you.

      Carol Fisher: I'm in love with you, and I want to marry you.

      John Jones: Hmm... that cuts down our love scene quite a bit, doesn't it?

    • 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
      Due to its political theme, no German distributor was willing to show the film until 1960. Then, after the huge success of Psycho (1960), Constantin Film released the film with a running time of ca. 98 Minutes; approximately 22 minutes were cut, mainly Nazi-sequences. ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) showed the film in 1995 for the first time ever in Germany in a newly-dubbed uncut version.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Rule Britannia
      (1740) (uncredited)

      Music by Thomas Augustine Arne

      Background music played as a ship pulls out of the harbor

    User reviews171

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Another Hitchcock crowd-pleaser
    The first half hour of Hitchcock's "Foreign Correspondent" looks like it can either be a light romantic comedy or a oddly fashioned drama about current events. But then, there's this scene in the rain, where our hero, played with energy by Joel McCrea, attends a crowded political meeting. McCrea notices his new friend, an elderly ambassador acts vacant and glassy eyed. Then, this mysterious photographer steps in. The photographer has next to his camera, a gun.... At this point "Foreign Correspondent" becomes an inventive chase thriller, darting across the audiences' eyes at a berserk chase. This was the first time that Hitchcock had all of Hollywood's tools at his disposal, and what a spellbinding, constantly fun classic came of it. I look forward to this film making it's DVD debut!
    helpful•35
    7
    • boris-26
    • Feb 2, 2004

    FAQ2

    • Is this film in the public domain?
    • Some copies look terrible. Which is the best version to buy?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 16, 1940 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
      • Dutch
      • German
      • Latvian
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Amsterdam, Netherlands
    • Production company
      • Walter Wanger Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 2 hours
      • Black and White

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    Laraine Day and Joel McCrea in Foreign Correspondent (1940)
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