Code of the Secret Service (1939)

Director:

Noel M. Smith

Writers:

Lee Katz (original screen play) and
Dean Riesner (original screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

27 May 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime

Plot:

Brass is assigned to uncovering a counterfeiting ring that has stolen bona-fide treasury plates and is converting $1 bills to $100's through a Mexicoan casino.

Plot Keywords:

Counterfeit | Mexico | Jail | Secret Service | Gambling

Cast

Ronald Reagan	...	Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft
Rosella Towne	...	Elaine
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Gabby
Moroni Olsen	...	The Friar
Edgar Edwards	...	Ross
Jack Mower	...	Decker
John Gallaudet	...	Dan Crockett
Joe King	...	Tom 'Jim' Saxby (as Joseph King)
Steve Darrell	...	Butch (as Stevan Darrell)
Sol Gorss	...	Dutch
George Regas	...	Mexican Police Officer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dick Botiller	...	Police Chief (uncredited)
Glen Cavender	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Demetris Emanuel	...	Border Police Officer (uncredited)
Antonio Filauri	...	Second Detective on Train (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga	...	Mexican Soldier Playing Strip Poker (uncredited)
June Gittelson	...	Fat Girl on Train (uncredited)
Jerry Gomez	...	Sombrero Merchant (uncredited)
John Harron	...	Gambler Paid in Silver (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Croupier (uncredited)
Al Lloyd	...	Gambler Playing Roulette (uncredited)
Chris-Pin Martin	...	Mexican Pottery Proprietor (uncredited)
Frank Mayo	...	Casino Manager (uncredited)
Ted Offenbecker	...	Messenger (uncredited)
George Offerman Jr.	...	Messenger (uncredited)
Paul Panzer	...	Mexican Soldier Arresting Gabby (uncredited)
Frank Puglia	...	Train Conductor (uncredited)
Theodore Rand	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Pedro Regas	...	Diego (uncredited)
Sam Rice	...	Extra in Casino (uncredited)
Julian Rivero	...	Juan the Jailkeeper (uncredited)
Cliff Saum	...	Policeman (uncredited)
Rafael Storm	...	First Detective on Train (uncredited)
José Luis Tortosa	...	Border Police Officer (uncredited)
Leo White	...	Extra Watching Casino Fight (uncredited)
Jack Wise	...	Croupier (uncredited)
Maris Wrixon	...	Saxby's Secretary (uncredited)

Directed by
Noel M. Smith		(as Noel Smith)

Writing credits
Lee Katz		(original screen play) and
Dean Riesner		(original screen play) (as Dean Franklin)
W.H. Moran		(based upon material compiled by: ex-chief of the U.S. Secret Service)

Produced by
Bryan Foy	....	associate producer (uncredited)
Hal B. Wallis	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Jack L. Warner	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernhard Kaun		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Ted D. McCord		(photography) (as Ted McCord)

Film Editing by
Frederick Richards		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Charles Novi

Costume Design by
Milo Anderson		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Marshall Hageman	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dolph Thomas	....	sound

Music Department
Bernhard Kaun	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
John Langan	....	dialogue director
Lex Neal	....	comedy construction

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents) (A First National Picture)

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1938) (USA) (theatrical) (as Warner Bros. Pictures Inc.)
• Teakwood Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2010) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  DVD package design
• Warner Bros. Entertainment  DVD package design

Runtime:

58 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #4982) | Australia:G | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

The scene where Bancroft rushes onto the observation platform on the train with a woman billed as 'fat girl on train' and the subsequent struggle with his pursuers when they catch up with him appears to be missing some key, probably humorous, explanatory sequences or dialogue.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The fight doubles for Reagan and his villain adversary are clearly doubles in the casino medium shots.

Quotes:

Gabby:What assignmennt did you get?
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft:The Treasury stick-up.
Gabby:Right down my alley. When do we leave?
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft:Well, you'll have to include yourself out this trip, Gabby. Well, you couldn't go anyway. Aren't you guarding the President?
Gabby:Nah. he went fishin' again. Besides you need a man like me to look after yuh.
Lt. 'Brass' Bancroft:Who's gonna look after you?
Gabby:[Initially laughs but quickly realizes this is no compliment and he frowns] Whatta yuh mean?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Million Dollar Celebrity Invitational Quarterfinal 3 (#26.49)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Georgia Brown

The Secret Service Gets The Ring

Code of the Secret Service is the second of several B films that has young B film star Ronald Reagan starring as T-Man Brass Bancroft on assignment to help break up a counterfeiting ring south of the border.

It's a good thing that Reagan went on to better parts in his film career because stuff like this could have sunk him. For reasons that the plot does not explain Reagan and sidekick Eddie Foy, Jr. are instructed not to notify the Mexican officials. That single fact is responsible for nearly all of Reagan's problems as he's accused of the murder of John Gallaudet, the original agent on the case. Reagan spends the entire film avoiding the police as well as trying to track down the ring.

Rising somewhat above this drivel is Moroni Olsen playing a padre who's definitely not what he seems. He overacts outrageously because he knows that this isn't Citizen Kane he's doing.

I'm not sure devoted fans of the Gipper could sit through this.