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The Spy in Black (1939) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   359 votes
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Up 31% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Michael Powell
Writers:
J. Storer Clouston (story)
Emeric Pressburger (screenplay)
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Contact:
View company contact information for U-Boat 29 on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
7 October 1939 (USA) more
Genre:
Thriller | War more
Tagline:
Is this beauty friend or foe...as U-Boat terror at sea is directed by unknown master spies on land? Out of Europe's blackout of peace flashes the inside story of ruthless submarine warfare and incredible world-wide espionage! more
Plot:
A German submarine is sent to the Orkney Isles in 1917 to sink the British fleet. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
An Intriguing Little Thriller with a Difference more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Conrad Veidt ... Captain Hardt
Sebastian Shaw ... Lt. Ashington / Cmdr. David Blacklock
Valerie Hobson ... Frau Tiel / Jill Blacklock
Marius Goring ... Lt. Schuster
June Duprez ... Anne Burnett
Athole Stewart ... The Rev. Hector Matthews
Agnes Lauchlan ... Mrs. Matthews
Helen Haye ... Mrs. Sedley
Cyril Raymond ... The Rev. John Harris
George Summers ... Captain (Walter) Ratter - ferry captain
Hay Petrie ... Engineer
Grant Sutherland ... Bob Bratt
Robert Rendel ... Admiral
Mary Morris ... Chauffeuse
Margaret Moffatt ... Kate
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
U-Boat 29 (USA)
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Runtime:
82 min | USA:77 min | Argentina:80 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
There was a U29 in the German Navy during the Great War. It was sunk in the Pentland Firth in 1915, by being rammed by HMS Dreadnought. more
Goofs:
Factual errors: There has never been a HMS Connaught in the British Navy. more
Quotes:
The Reverand John Harris: That medal ribbon. I don't seem to recognise it. What is it?
Captain Hardt: The Iron Cross... Second Class.
The Reverand John Harris: Second Class... then you must be a prisoner of war?
Captain Hardt: No.
[draws gun]
Captain Hardt: You are.
The Reverand John Harris: Oh dear.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in "Dad's Army: The Big Parade (#4.1)" (1970) more

FAQ

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16 out of 18 people found the following comment useful:-
An Intriguing Little Thriller with a Difference, 3 May 2002
8/10
Author: Bob Westal

Just wanted to second the other user's comment.

I saw this last night as part of a Michael Powell/Emeric Pressberger retrospective underway at the American Cinemetheque. There are some unlikely aspects to the plot, but on the whole this is well crafted WWI thriller with a remarkable level of moral complexity, especially given that it was made and released just as England was entering a second war against Germany.

The protagonist (hero?) (played by the extraordinary Conrad Veidt) is a German officer on a spy mission and he is, in many respects, a quite admirable character. For the first half of the film, it's almost entirely from his point of view. It's hard to imagine Hollywood filmmakers EVER having the confidence that Powell and Pressberger clearly had in the intelligence of their audience, allowing them to actually like and admire an enemy agent.

While "The Spy in Black" eventually does come down squarely on the side of the English, the agents of the Kaiser come off only as perhaps a hair more ruthless than those fighting for king and country.

Of course, the Germany that England would be fighting within a few a few months would be far, far worse. This film is a potent reminder that while World War II might have a morally clear "good" war because of the vast evil of the Nazis, World War I was a horse of a far grayer color.

With sophisticated, occasionally black humor, this is a neat bit of old-fashioned movie entertainment with some genuinely intriguing differences. Enthusaistically recommended.

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