Although the home of cabinet minister Arthur Bennett is a hotbed of spies, moles, and double agents, no one knows the true identity of notorious German spymaster Strendler.Although the home of cabinet minister Arthur Bennett is a hotbed of spies, moles, and double agents, no one knows the true identity of notorious German spymaster Strendler.Although the home of cabinet minister Arthur Bennett is a hotbed of spies, moles, and double agents, no one knows the true identity of notorious German spymaster Strendler.
- British Intelligence Agent
- (uncredited)
- Miss Risdon - Bennett's Secretary
- (uncredited)
- Under Officer Pfalz
- (uncredited)
- Capt. Lanark
- (uncredited)
- German Officer
- (uncredited)
- Von Ritter
- (uncredited)
- Milkman
- (uncredited)
- German Junior Officer
- (uncredited)
- Otto Kurtz
- (uncredited)
- Brigadier General
- (uncredited)
- German Soldier
- (uncredited)
- Cabinet Minister
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn the vestibule of Bennett's home hangs a well-known [reproduction] painting by Rembrandt, called 'An Old Man in Military Costume.' Dating from c.1631, it is a portrait of an old man posing in an outfit featuring a metal breastplate and a plumed hat. The original has been owned by the Getty Center in Los Angeles since 1978.
- GoofsWhen in London in a taxi, Helene says to Henry Thompson "Wasn't there a son?" Thompson replies "Frank, I think his name is. He's in France in the Air Force." The Royal Air Force did not come into existence until 1st April 1918 and was at that time The Royal Flying Corps.
- Quotes
Helene Von Lorbeer, aka Frances Hautry: [hoping to meet Strendler] I'm so anxious to meet him, his work, his methods - a genius!
Valdar, aka Karl Schiller: No! A symbol of blind duty!
Helene Von Lorbeer, aka Frances Hautry: Or a complete patriot?
Valdar, aka Karl Schiller: Perhaps he has no soul, no conscience, nothing! He'd kill you or me - for duty!
- Crazy creditsThe swelling of the end title music cuts off the end of Colonel Yates's final line. However, as he has just said "We will fight on" and is simply repeating "and on, and on, and on," it was likely not a mistake.
- ConnectionsEdited from The Dawn Patrol (1930)
Boris Karloff is Valdar, the butler/valet every man wants. Obsequious and efficient, he claims to be a refugee from war-scarred Euope, a fellow who has lost his family to the murdering Hun. He is ensconced in the home of a powerful Englishman who consorts with the cabinet. Projected into the household in a convenient but not necessarily convincing way is Helene von Lorbeer, played by the very pretty Margaret Lindsay who had a good run in both "A" and "B" pictures in the 30s and 40s before she decided to fatten up thus losing her screen sex appeal.
Helene under another name was a nurse in a British field hospital and she took care of the wounded RFC pilot son of the man in whose home she is now a guest. They fall in love but she can't let him know that since she's a Florence Nightingale with a Mata Hari mission. Of course the recovered pilot returns home to find her there.
British Intelligence desperately needs to terminate a German master spy, Strengler. Who is he? How is he able to glean military secrets before, as one exasperated senior officer exclaims, junior officers are even briefed on the operational plans.
What follows is a fairly taut cat and mouse game seeking the deadly spy.
It's good fun, nice acting. Director Terry O. Morse, who edited more films than he directed, did a better than average job here.
Dated, of course, but that's part of its charm. I wonder if London moviegoers in 1940 needed to be exhorted by speeches denouncing the depraved Boche. Probably not but I'm sure they appreciated Karloff and Lindsay.
7/10
- lawprof
- Aug 23, 2004
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Details
- Runtime1 hour 1 minute
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1