They Made Her a Spy (1939)

Director:

Jack Hively

Writers:

George Bricker (story)
Michael Kanin (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 April 1939 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Spy - to catch a spy! (original poster)

Plot:

When her brother is killed by sabotage, Irene Eaton (Sally Eilers) joins the secret service and goes undercover to unroot the culprits.

Plot Keywords:

Explosion | Sabotage | Cafe | Washington Monument | Military

Cast

Sally Eilers	...	Irene Eaton, aka Margaret Brennan
Allan Lane	...	George Wolf / James Huntley
Fritz Leiber	...	Dr. Krull
Frank M. Thomas	...	Col. John Shaw
Theodore von Eltz	...	Colonel Marvin Page (as Theodore Von Eltz)
Addison Richards	...	Senator Everett Brock
Larry J. Blake	...	Ben Dawson (as Larry Blake)
Pierre Watkin	...	Colonel Wilson
Louis Jean Heydt	...	Gillian, Waiter #4
Spencer Charters	...	Lucius 'Paul' Wilkins
Leona Roberts	...	Mrs. Ella Wilkins
Charles Halton	...	Beldon, the Photographer
Alec Craig	...	Canby, Washington Monument Elevator Operator

Runtime:

69 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Passed | USA:Approved (PCA #5054)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Alan "Rocky" Lane, handsome and talented but never quite a top movie star, became a successful actor in many low-budget Westerns, but perhaps cinema history will remember him best as the voice of "Mr. Ed" the talking horse on the popular TV series with Alan Young.

Quotes:

George Wolf, alias James Huntley: You *can* put us up for the night, can't you?
Irene Eaton, aka Margaret Brennan: We're very tired; we've been traveling all day.
Lucius 'Paul' Wilkins: Well, uh...
[Mrs. Wilkins whispers something in his ear]
Lucius 'Paul' Wilkins: Well, we've only got one room, and that we've been renting mainly to... *married* couples.
George Wolf, alias James Huntley: [He looks doubtful, then suddenly puts his arm around Irene] We're married, aren't we, dear?
Irene Eaton, aka Margaret Brennan: [big fake smile] Oh, of course! You see, well, it's been so long that I thought *everybody* knew...
[under her breath]
Irene Eaton, aka Margaret Brennan: or something.
Mrs. Ella Wilkins: I don't believe it!
[...]

There's Spys Out There!!!

Prior to the outbreak of World War II (WWII) and continuing through too our entry in the war there was a series of cautionary tales involving Spys and their threat too this countries (U.S.A.) security. THEY MADE HER A SPY (1939) was RKOs' contribution to this trend.

Irene Eaton/Margaret Brennan (Sally Eilers) has a Patriotic as well as personal reason to fight against Spys. Her Brother in the first reel gets blown up testing a new explosive, SABOTAGE! Offering her services to Army Intelligence she quickly infiltrates the ring gaining their confidence. Along the way she meets future romantic interest George Wolf/James Huntley (Allan Lane). Are the Spys defeated and the Republic made secure? You bet and in only sixty-nine (69) entertaining minutes.

THEY MADE HER A SPY is not in the top ranks of these films. That would have to be a film like FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT (1940), Alfred Hitchcock directing. That movie we rate IMDb Eight********stars. This film though is worth watching as it is filled with competent second tier and character actors. The ending has a nice twist when the Master Spy is revealed.