Secret Agent (1936)

After three British Agents are assigned to assassinate a mysterious German spy during World War I, two of them become ambivalent when their duty to the mission conflicts with their consciences.

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writers:

Campbell Dixon (play), W. Somerset Maugham (novel)

Stars:

John Gielgud, Madeleine Carroll, Robert Young

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Madeleine Carroll	...	Elsa Carrington
Peter Lorre	...	The General
John Gielgud	...	Richard Ashenden / Edgar Brodie
Robert Young	...	Robert Marvin
Percy Marmont	...	Caypor
Florence Kahn	...	Mrs. Caypor
Charles Carson	...	'R'
Lilli Palmer	...	Lilli

Storyline

During the first world war, novelist Edgar Brodie is sent to Switzerland by the Intelligence Service. He has to kill a German agent. During the mission he meets a fake general first and then Elsa Carrington who helps him in his duty.

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Plot Keywords:

espionage | spy | switzerland | death | murder | 

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Taglines:

Dead Women Tell No Tales Was The Motto of This Charming Lady Killer !

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Genres:

Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

15 June 1936 (USA)

Also Known As:

Laugh Track: Secret Agent

Filming Locations:

Gainsborough Studios, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gaumont British Picture Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Full Range Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Alfred Hitchcock reflected (regarding Sir John Gielgud's lack of heroics): "You can't root for a hero who doesn't want to be one."

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Goofs

A newspaper gives the date as Thursday May 10, 1916. In actuality, May 10, 1916 was a Wednesday.

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Quotes

Edgar Brodie: Oh, I'm to have an assistant, am I?
'R': Yes, and in the circumstances, a very useful one. We call him the "Hairless Mexican".
Edgar Brodie: Oh? Why?
'R': Well, chiefly because he's got a lot of curly hair and isn't a Mexican. You can call him The General. He isn't a general, but he'll appreciate the compliment.

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Connections

Referenced in Breach (2007)

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Soundtracks

Bulgar Folk Song
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Hubert Bath

User Reviews

The oddest Hitchcock

Hitchcock was an extremely visual film-maker as a rule and this film took an entirely different direction. What I remember most are the sounds - or more specifically, the noises. The discordant sound of the organ, for example, stands out. It isn't pretty and why should it be? The organist's dead after all. The noise in the chocolate factory is a continuous din relieved only by a fire alarm! Then, two of the main characters are caught in the bell-tower of a church when the bells begin to ring. Again, the sound isn't pleasant at all but quite annoying. A "musical" scene with yodelers ends up with coins being swirled around plates and is almost overbearing. The dog's howling in its psychic moment is long and unnerving. In all, these sound effects set the audience on edge which I think was part of the original plan. The two central characters are uneasy with their task and we are made to suffer too. This is an unusual film for Hitch and well worth the time.

Curtis Stotlar