I was a spy
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | I was a spy |
| Original title | I was a spy |
| Country of production | Great Britain |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1933 |
| length | 89 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Victor Saville |
| script |
WP Lipscomb Ian Hay (dialogues) based on the autobiography of Marthe Cnockaert |
| production | Michael Balcon for Gaumont British, London |
| music | Louis Levy |
| camera | Charles Van Enger |
| cut | Frederick Y. Smith |
| occupation | |
| |
I Was Spy is a 1933 British drama film with Conrad Veidt and Madeleine Carroll in the lead roles. It was directed by Victor Saville .
action
The action takes place during the First World War in German- occupied Belgium . The young Marthe Cnockaert works in the West Belgian town of Roeselare in a German military hospital and cares for wounded soldiers. Nobody knows that she is also engaged in another, much more dangerous job: espionage for the British enemy. She has an ally in the Alsatian sergeant, Stephan, who is rather reluctant to serve in the German army . From now on, both work hand in hand. They manage to blow up a German poison gas storage facility . Next, Marthe transmits the news to the British that the Germans are holding a large parade in front of the city gates. The British then launched a devastating air attack on the defenseless German soldiers parading there.
One day Marthe is summoned to the German city commandant Oberaertz. She already believes she is exposed. But they only want to award her the Iron Cross for her self-sacrificing work as a carer for German wounded. Oberaertz quickly takes a liking to the young Belgian and invites her to travel with him to Brussels. With a heavy heart she agrees in order not to attract attention and possibly to elicit important information from the city commander. But she has long since lost her heart to her colleague Stephan. But then Marthe is exposed as a spy. Her guilt is certain, as is her death sentence . Although she could save her life, she does not name any of her colleagues. Stephan sacrifices himself for his great love and surrenders voluntarily. This seals his fate, but Marthe survives in prison. One day the city will be evacuated by the Germans. Marthe is set free and is celebrated as a heroine.
Production notes
I was spy was the first film that Conrad Veidt made in his new adopted home England since the National Socialists came to power in Germany. The film premiered on September 3, 1933 in London and was released in many other countries by 1935, including Austria on March 8, 1935. There it was given this German title. As expected , I was not a spy in Germany because of the extremely positive sign of the Belgian resistance against the German occupation forces.
Ian Dalrymple, who later came to some fame as a screenwriter and producer, assisted producer Michael Balcon . Alfred Junge designed the film structures.
Reviews
“In the excitingly staged film by Victor Saville, which brings gripping war footage, you can see the beautiful Madeleine Carroll as the expressive actress of the spy and Conrad Veidt as the city commander and Herbert Marshall as Stephan, whose acting achievements in the vividly drawn milieu ... exquisite come."
“Not exactly a memorable story about spy agent Carroll, a Belgian nurse who helps the British after their country was overrun by the Germans during World War I. Veidt is perfectly staffed as the German commander. "
"Good war espionage melodrama on a standard level."
Web links
- I was a spy in theInternet Movie Database(English)