Blackout (1940)
"Contraband" (original title)

Early in World War II, Danish sea captain Andersen, delayed in a British port, tangles with German spies.

Director:

Michael Powell

Writers:

Emeric Pressburger (original story & screenplay), Michael Powell (scenario),

Stars:

Conrad Veidt, Valerie Hobson, Hay Petrie

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Conrad Veidt	...	Capt. Andersen
Valerie Hobson	...	Mrs.Sorensen
Hay Petrie	...	Axel Skold / Erik Skold
Joss Ambler	...	Lt. Cmdr. Ashton, RNR
Raymond Lovell	...	Van Dyne
Esmond Knight	...	Mr.Pidgeon
Charles Victor	...	Hendrick
Phoebe Kershaw	...	Miss Lang
Harold Warrender	...	Lt. Cmdr. Ellis, RN
John Longden	...	Passport Officer
Eric Maturin	...	Passport Officer
Paddy Browne	...	Singer in 'Regency'
Henry Wolston	...	First Danish Waiter
Julian Vedey	...	Second Danish Waiter
Sydney Moncton	...	Third Danish Waiter

Storyline

This is the tale of life in a British port in the first year of World War II. Spies and smugglers abound in the blackout and unreal shore life of the "phoney war" (before the shooting started).

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Plot Keywords:

spy | danish | german | blackout | sea captain | 

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Taglines:

Stop that man and woman! His mission is deadlier than that of the enemy in the sky. Her beauty is a dangerous weapon of war!

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Genres:

Adventure | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Danish

Release Date:

29 November 1940 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blackout

Filming Locations:

Chester Square, Belgravia, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£47,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

British National Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Michael Powell and the crew went on location to Ramsgate (Eastgate in the film), they sent all their luggage and equipment in cases boldly marked "Contraband". Luckily the local wartime Contraband Controllers saw the funny side and when they arrived at the hotel they found their cases had stamps and stencils all over them saying things like "Explosives", "Examined", "Condemned".

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Quotes

Mrs.Sorensen: Did you ever try being married? That can be quite a big adventure.
Captain Anderson: [sighs] Why do women always say that? Marriage ends adventure.
Mrs.Sorensen: [copies sigh] Why do men always say that?

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Crazy Credits

"White Negro" caberet designed & executed by Hedley Briggs.

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Connections

References Spies (1928)

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Soundtracks

"Danish Song"
(uncredited)
Written by John Greenwood

User Reviews

A surprisingly good Hitchcockian style British thriller!

I bought this movie because it was directed by Michael Powell, scripted by Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and starred Conrad Veidt and Valerie Hobson (a great important British director/producer/writer and two great stars). I knew this hailed from just before Powell & Pressburger hit their stride as THE ARCHERS. Boy, what a pleasant surprise; this is FIRST-RATE suspense/spy thriller which takes place in the early days of wartime Britian but before Pearl Harbor. It's about a Danish sea captain who's forced to follow two missing and suspicious passengers while his ship is being temporarily held by the British. What follows is a spy mystery through London during the days of Blackouts....and is ever bit as clever, amusing and suspenseful as any of Hitchcock's superb British sound films. I URGE you to check out this great and little seen British film classic.