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Confessions of a Nazi Spy

  • 1939
  • Approved
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Edward G. Robinson in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
FBI agent Ed Renard investigates the pre-War espionage activities of the German-American Bund.
Play trailer3:22
1 Video
31 Photos
DramaWar

FBI agent Ed Renard investigates the pre-War espionage activities of the German-American Bund.FBI agent Ed Renard investigates the pre-War espionage activities of the German-American Bund.FBI agent Ed Renard investigates the pre-War espionage activities of the German-American Bund.

  • Director
    • Anatole Litvak
  • Writers
    • Milton Krims
    • John Wexley
    • Leon G. Turrou
  • Stars
    • Edward G. Robinson
    • George Sanders
    • Francis Lederer
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Anatole Litvak
    • Writers
      • Milton Krims
      • John Wexley
      • Leon G. Turrou
    • Stars
      • Edward G. Robinson
      • George Sanders
      • Francis Lederer
    • 42User reviews
    • 13Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 wins

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:22
    Watch Trailer

    Photos31

    Edward G. Robinson, Frank Mayo, and Wolfgang Zilzer in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson and Francis Lederer in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Lionel Royce and Henry Victor in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Lotte Palfi Andor in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Edward G. Robinson and Francis Lederer in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Rudolph Anders in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Joe Sawyer in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Wilhelm von Brincken in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Hans Heinrich von Twardowski in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Martin Kosleck in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)
    Lionel Royce in Confessions of a Nazi Spy (1939)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Edward G. Robinson
    Edward G. Robinson
    • Edward Renard
    George Sanders
    George Sanders
    • Franz Schlager
    Francis Lederer
    Francis Lederer
    • Kurt Schneider
    Paul Lukas
    Paul Lukas
    • Dr. Karl F. Kassell
    Henry O'Neill
    Henry O'Neill
    • Attorney Kellogg
    Dorothy Tree
    Dorothy Tree
    • Hilda Kleinhauer
    Lya Lys
    Lya Lys
    • Erika Wolf
    Grace Stafford
    Grace Stafford
    • Mrs. Schneider
    James Stephenson
    James Stephenson
    • British Military Intelligence Agent
    Hedwiga Reicher
    Hedwiga Reicher
    • Mrs. Liza Kassell
    • (as Celia Sibelius)
    Joe Sawyer
    Joe Sawyer
    • Werner Renz
    Sig Ruman
    Sig Ruman
    • Dr. Julius Gustav Krogman
    • (as Sig Rumann)
    Lionel Royce
    • Hintze
    Henry Victor
    Henry Victor
    • Wildebrandt
    Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
    Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
    • Max Helldorf
    • (as Hans von Twardowski)
    Wolfgang Zilzer
    Wolfgang Zilzer
    • Johann Westphal
    • (as John Voigt)
    Frederik Vogeding
    Frederik Vogeding
    • Captain Richter
    • (as Frederick Vogeding)
    Willy Kaufman
    • Greutzwald
    • Director
      • Anatole Litvak
    • Writers
      • Milton Krims
      • John Wexley
      • Leon G. Turrou
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to the article "Hollywood Goes to War" by Colin Shindler in the film history tome "The Movie", "Warner Brothers, who had made the one explicitly anti-Nazi film of the [US] pre-war period (i.e., this film) were unofficially told by the [US] government not to make any more such pictures. In April 1940, the news filtered back to Hollywood that several Polish exhibitors who had shown the film had been hanged in the foyers of their own cinemas."
    • Goofs
      There is a large sign on a fence reading, "Fort Wentworth Base Hospital". The Army does not refer to its installations as "bases". A correct sign would have read "Post Hospital".
    • Quotes

      Dr. Paul Joseph Goebbels: There will be slight change in our methods. From now on, National Socialism in the United States must wrap itself in the American flag. It must appear to be a defense of Americanism. But at the same time, our aim must always be to discredit conditions there in the United Sates. And in this way make life in Germany admired and wished for. Racial and religious hatred must be fostered on the basis of American-Aryanism. Classism must be encouraged in a way that the labor and the middle classes will become confused and antagonistic. In the ensuing chaos, we will be able to take control.

    • Alternate versions
      For the 1940 re-release, Warner Bros. added footage showing the devastation inflicted on Norway, Holland and Belgium, those countries then occupied by Germany. That footage is included in the print shown on Turner Classic Movies.
    • Connections
      Featured in War Comes to America (1945)
    • Soundtracks
      Annie Laurie
      (1834-35) (uncredited)

      Music by Lady John Scott

      Whistled by Alec Craig

    User reviews42

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Overlong propaganda...with some great moments.
    Not a bad film, particularly in its historical importance. Reportedly, the Warner brothers and Edward G. Robinson all fought to make this film, which was made at a time when Americans, remembering the devastation of WWI, were still wary about entering another European conflict.

    Structured a little strangely -- we don't get enough of our favorite character, Robinson's, who is a prototype of the thirties G-Man. He has some great lines, particularly when cutting down the bad guys. It's interesting to see him on the right side of the law for once, and equally interesting to see Paul Lukas, best known for playing the anti-Nazi hero of Watch on the Rhine, playing a German sympathizer.

    An almost-unrecognizable George Sanders steals the show (doesn't he always?) as a hardcore Nazi soldier.

    The movie is heavy-handed propaganda which becomes almost comical with its over-dramatic narration and failure to recognize the irony in its supposed hate of propaganda. The narrator does offer up the movie's most hilarious line, describing how the Germans manufacture "mass stupidity."
    helpful•28
    12
    • LoveCoates
    • Sep 5, 2002

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 6, 1939 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Storm over America
    • Filming locations
      • San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, USA(Coast Guard flying boat scene)
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $1,500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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