Secret Command

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Movie
Original title Secret Command
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1944
length 82 minutes
Rod
Director A. Edward Sutherland
script Roy Chanslor
production Phil L. Ryan
music Paul Sawtell
camera Franz Planner
cut Viola Lawrence
occupation

And (selection): Dusty Anderson , Vernon Dent , Mary Gordon , Dewey Robinson , Ray Teal and Dorothy Vernon

Secret Command is an American spy film in black and white 1944 film was directed from the year A. Edward Sutherland . The screenplay was written by Roy Chanslor based on the feature novel Saboteurs by John and Ward Hawkins. The main roles were played by Pat O'Brian and Carole Landis .

action

After having had no contact with his family for a long time, Sam Gallagher begins to work in a shipyard. His brother Jeff, who is the foreman there, and the secretary Lea Damaron, who used to be Sam's girlfriend but is now with Jeff, are surprised that Sam is now married and has two children. In fact, the secret service sent Sam to the shipyard. James Thane, his chief in the secret service, has found him an apartment and family. The agent Jill McGann was assigned to him as a woman. The two children, Joan and Paul, are war orphans. Sam is supposed to investigate sabotage cases at the shipyard. One worker, Miller, has already been smuggled into a suspected Nazi group. The training period in the shipyard turns out to be difficult for Sam, as his colleagues, especially Jeff's deputy Red Kelly, only laugh at him. Sam soon gets into a fist fight with Red, which he gives up when he realizes that he is too conspicuous. Jeff is so surprised by Sam's assignment that he asks Lea to find out why.

Because of an aircraft carrier that is due to arrive in a few days, the yard manager Max Lessing calls for accelerated work. To do this, a hard-to-get part of the work has to be moved. When it threatens to fall into the water, Jeff climbs onto a crane while trying to save it. His project almost succeeds. But then the stability of the crane is further sabotaged, causing it to fall unconscious into the water. Sam jumps after it and can save him. When Sam visits the injured Jeff in the hospital, he is better. After a short thank you, Jeff and Lea ask him about his marriage. He answers briefly and leaves, but this only increases the suspicion of the two. Back at the shipyard, Sam investigates the accident and can trace it back to sabotage. He also tells Lessing and his security advisor Ben Royall when they catch him doing it. The two belong to the saboteurs, as he learns from Miller a short time later. Red heard Sam speak and asks him about it. So the interrupted boxing match is now continued. Then the two get along brilliantly; Red will take Sam to work in the future. At the next meeting with Miller, Sam is recognized by the saboteur Simms, who knows Sam from the time of his imprisonment with the Nazis. Simms speaks to Miller about this on Sam. Shortly thereafter, Jill calls Sam home on an excuse to tell him this. Simms follows Sam there. A fight breaks out in the apartment in which Jill Simms is knocked down in the dark, and Simms is fatally injured.

The evening before the planned attack, the Nazi group meets, which Miller reported. In this case, the Gestapo officer of Browning, which belongs under the name Brownie Sam working group in the shipyard, presented to the previously unknown conductors. When Miller tries to pass this on, Browning surprises him and shoots him. In the meantime, on Thane's orders, Jill and the children were taken to the neighboring house and Sam was taken to the shipyard. Therefore, Red does not meet him when he wants to pick him up. Von Browning, who thinks Red is Sam in the dark, shoots him and drives on. Red has recognized him and can tell the rushed Jill that before he dies. The saboteurs now want to strike, but are arrested by Thane and Sam in their explosives store. The two believe they have caught everyone when Jill comes and points out Sam about Von Browning, who left the camp on time. Sam searches for him and finds an activated explosive charge, but is immediately attacked by von Browning. A fight ensues in which the two fall into the sea. There Sam succeeds in drowning by Browning. At the last moment he can stop the explosion.

Finally Sam is allowed to tell Jeff and Lea, who have meanwhile got married, that he had been imprisoned in Germany for several years and was therefore unable to report. Back in the apartment, he asks for Jill's hand. The two will adopt Joan and Paul.

production

Production company

Secret Command was the first film to be produced by Terneen Productions , a production company owned by Pat O'Brian and friend Phil L. Ryan . Pat O'Brien wanted to give his career a new direction; so he had more freedom and also the hope to earn a little more money. It was Pat O'Brien's only attempt to produce a film, while Phil Ryan produced two more films, Perilous Holiday and Fighting Father Dunne , both with Pat O'Brian in the lead role.

Cast and crew

Actress Carol Nugent made her film debut in Secret Command .

Jean Louis was responsible for the costumes in Secret Command , and Lionel Banks , Edward C. Jewell and Robert Priestley for the production design .

Filming

The shooting for Secret Command ran from January 17th to March 8th 1944. The shooting took place in the shipyards of the California Shipbuilding Corporation .

Premiere

Secret Command premiered in New York City on June 13, 1944 , and was released in US theaters on July 31, 1944. A performance in the German-speaking area could not be proven. The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures .

reception

Reviews

Some critics mostly saw a fast and exciting counter-espionage film, which, although it shouldn't be questioned, is fun. It is unbelievable, has little to do with reality and does not offer much that is new. The special effects are very good for their time, even if not quite what one is used to 'today'. It is also pointed out that Secret Command is not only exciting, but also funny and shows a love story. The scenes from a large shipyard are also unusual.

It is one of the best films with Pat O'Brien, which shows a good performance, rough but personable, as his fans love. Carole Landis and Ruth Warrick are also mentioned.

Overall, the film has a stupid setup and is quite predictable, but it is still surprisingly effective and overall solid entertainment.

Bosley Crowther of the New York Times, however, found the film as "subtle as a right to the jaw" ("as subtle as a right to the jaw") and saw Pat O'Brien in another whipping role.

Award

For her work on Secret Command were David Allen , Ray Cory and Robert Wright (visual), and Russell Malmgren and Harry Kusnick (sound) at the Academy Awards 1945 in the category Special Effects nomination. The Oscar went to the film Thirty Seconds About Tokyo .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Secret Command (1944). In: American Film Institute . Accessed January 2, 2019 .
  2. ^ Frank Miller, Scott McGee: Secret Command (1944). In: Turner Classic Movies. Accessed January 2, 2019 .
  3. ↑ a b c d e f “Secret Command” with Pat O'Brien, Carole Landis and Chester Morris . In: Harrison's Reports . June 10, 1944, p.  96 (English, online at Archive.org [accessed January 2, 2019]).
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Secret Command . In: Variety . May 31, 1944, p.  20 ( online at Archive.org [accessed January 2, 2019]).
  5. ^ Leonard Maltin: Leonard Maltin Ratings & Review. In: Turner Classic Movies. Accessed January 2, 2019 .
  6. ↑ a b c d e Craig Butler: Secret Command (1944). In: AllMovie . Accessed January 2, 2019 .
  7. ↑ Bosley Crowther : The Screen . In: The New York Times . June 14, 1944 ( online on New York Times [accessed January 2, 2019]).