IMDb >
While America Sleeps (1939)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditsAwards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guidemessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsmemorable quotesDid You Know?
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
box office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsWhile America Sleeps (1939) More at IMDbPro »
Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Release Date:
15 April 1939 (USA)
See more »
Plot:
An episode in the "Crime Does Not Pay" series. Dave Miller, an aircraft plant worker, is actually selling secret bomber plans to foreign agents...
See more »
| Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
User Reviews:
OK "Crime Does Not Pay."
See more (1 total) »
Cast
(in credits order) (complete, awaiting verification) | Dick Purcell | ... | Dave Miller (as Richard G. Purcell) |
| Lenita Lane | ... | Mary Miller |
| Egon Brecher | ... | Klaus |
| Frederick Vogeding | ... | Spy Chief (as Fred Vogeding) |
| Roland Varno | ... | Spy Henchman |
| Richard Lane | ... | Agent Carmichael |
| Paul Stanton | ... | Arthur A. Sears |
| Steve Pendleton | ... | George (as Gaylord Pendleton) |
| Charles Trowbridge | ... | Barton |
| Robert Winkler | ... | Bill Miller |
| John Hamilton | ... | Chief of Intelligence |
| Phillip Terry | ... | MGM Crime Reporter |
| Richard Tucker | ... | Air Force Colonel |
| rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Chuck Hamilton | ... | Police Driver (uncredited) (archive footage) |
| Charles Murphy | ... | Foreman (uncredited) |
| Bob Reeves | ... | Policeman (uncredited) |
Directed by | |||
| Fred Zinnemann | |||
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| Karl Kamb | screenplay | |
| Karl Kamb | story | |
Produced by | |||
| Jack Chertok | .... | producer | |
Cinematography by | |||
| Paul Vogel | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Ralph Goldstein | (as Ralph E. Goldstein) | ||
Music Department | |||
| William Axt | .... | composer: stock music (uncredited) | |
| David Snell | .... | composer: stock music (uncredited) | |
Production CompaniesDistributors
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1939) (USA) (theatrical)
Additional Details
Also Known As:
"Crime Does Not Pay No. 22: While America Sleeps" - USA (series title)
See more »
See more »
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
21 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Company:
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.See more (1 total) »
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for While America Sleeps (1939)Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | IMDb Crime section |
| IMDb USA section |
Copyright © 1990-2013
IMDb.com, Inc.
Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Interest-Based Ads
An 
company.
Fred Zinnman manages a slight shift in emphasis and gets a quite lively ending intercutting the fifth columnists' factory fire (cf. the one in his STUFFIE) with the punch-up between Purcell and the government agent. Otherwise it's clearly part of it's series.
The several thousand fold increase in WW2 spy activity in "a country whose sole intention is to stay at peace in a troubled world" means agent Lane and his men must foil Brecher, Vogeding and Varno's dastardly plot to sneak the latest American aviation engineering abroad.
Family man Purcell lives in the MGM tract home with wife Lane and their child but he's taking cash on the side for the photos of blueprints he makes with a borrowed camera. The spy team want the new bomb site, demonstrated with aviation stock footage in front of a terrible photo mural. Fat chance with US agents on their tail.
OK entry in this atitudinizing series.