The spy in black
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The spy in black |
| Original title | The Spy in Black |
| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1939 |
| length | 77 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Michael Powell |
| script |
Emeric Pressburger Roland Pertwee |
| production | Irving Asher |
| music | Miklós Rózsa |
| camera | Bernard Browne |
| cut |
William Hornbeck Hugh Stewart |
| occupation | |
| |
The Spy in Black is a British spy film made on the eve of World War II with Conrad Veidt in the lead role. The film, which marked the first collaboration between the later successful duo Michael Powell (director) and Emeric Pressburger (screenplay), was based on a novel by Joseph Storer Clouston .
action
First World War , March 1917. The German commander of the U-29 submarine, Captain Hardt, is sent on a top secret enemy mission by the imperial naval command to uncover secrets from the British navy and sink the kingdom's fleet at anchor in Scapa Flow . Hardt lands on one of the Orkney Islands in northern Scotland to contact the German spy Miss Tiel, who is expected here as the new teacher Anne Burnett. The Germans intercepted the actual Anne Burnett shortly before on their way to the Orkneys. Captain Hardt can expect further help from a disgraced Royal Navy officer , former Commander Ashington. Ever since he lost his command due to drunkenness on duty, he has harbored a strong grudge against the Navy in particular and the Kingdom in general and wants revenge. To recruit and keep him in line, Miss Tiel even went to bed with Ashington.
The whole plan threatens to be exposed when the Reverend Harris, Miss Burnett's fiancé, shows up in town and wonders where his girlfriend has gone. Hardt's people have no choice but to arrest him. The German spy troops face further complications when the local churchman Reverend Matthews and his wife appear and wonder about the disappearance of his colleague Harris. Miss Tiel can skillfully defuse this dangerous situation. Soon the German submarine commander has all the information he needs about British naval movements and all Hardt has to do is return to his U-29. The submarine commander, who has had an eye on Miss Tiel but has always refused him so far, tries one last time to land with her. However, he receives another basket. She locks him up in the house, both meeting point. However, Hardt can quickly free himself and secretly follows her. Miss Tiel goes to Commander Ashington. Hardt thinks he can't believe his ears what he's hearing there. Obviously Hardt is dealing with double agents, because the British, as the German spy on enemy missions must learn, have long known what is going on here and have full control over the enemy's operations. The British want to try to lure the German submarines and Captain Hardt into a well-prepared trap. Ashington is actually Navy Commander Blacklock and "Miss Tiel" is his wife Jill.
Jill prepares to leave the Orkneys, and her husband goes to the house where he believes Captain Hardt is still to arrest the German. In the disguise of Reverend Harris, Hardt goes aboard the island ferry, on which Jill and eight German prisoners of war are. Blacklock has meanwhile reported Hardt's disappearance to his superiors. They already know about the German activities, while Anne Burnett escaped when the German spies tried to drown them in the sea. During the crossing on the ferry, Hardt succeeds in freeing the eight German prisoners of war and gaining control of the ferry. The Royal Navy is pursuing them. Before the Navy has overtaken the ferry, the U-29 stops it. Hardt's first officer, Lieutenant Schuster, decides to bombard and sink the ferry. At the last moment, Captain Hardt sees that his own people are on the verge of sinking him and all the other ferry guests to the bottom of the sea. Hardt desperately tries to signal his people not to fire. Schuster does not notice him and orders the fire. The ferry sinks, but before everyone goes under, the British ships reach the site of the accident and bombard the U-29 with underwater bombs, which then sinks. Jill and the other passengers let themselves be saved by the sinking ferry, while Hardt, who must see his entire mission as a failure, prefers to share the fate of his crew and goes down with the ferry.
Production notes
The Spy in Black was filmed until Christmas Eve 1938 and presented to an audience for the first time on March 15, 1939 in a demonstration for interested parties. The film had its official world premiere on August 3, 1939, i.e. immediately before the outbreak of World War II. This made the film very topical. On November 15, 1985 the film could be seen for the first time on German television (in the 3rd program of Bavarian Radio).
Alexander Korda was involved in the production without a name. Vincent Korda designed the film structures that Frederick Pusey carried out. Muir Mathieson was musical director.
Reviews
The contemporary and modern reviews have been quite benevolent of this film. Here are a few examples.
“The fictional story is about a success of the British counterintelligence in the Orkney Islands during the First World War. (...) The film tells this with a good dose of drama. It owes its pleasantly casual charm to a parade of eccentric Scottish characters that it presents as if by chance. (...) The common villain of the whole affair is the submarine and not Mr. Veidt, who - although German - is characterized as a courageous and honorable person. "
The lexicon of international films reads: “An exciting espionage melodrama that lives from the atmosphere of the landscape and has a surprisingly positive main character: the German officer is dutiful and brave - a dangerous opponent who is extremely vigilant among the British population in times of war required. "
"Nice, surprising twists in the story, with an interwoven, bittersweet romance."
"Unusual, romantic melodrama that makes for an unexpectedly interesting, romantic team."
Individual evidence
- ↑ The Spy in Black. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed January 1, 2019 .
Web links
- The Spy in Black in the Internet Movie Database (English)